Ethanol
It appears no one has factored in the amount of water that will be required to grow the additional corn or process the corn into ethanol. How can we deplete one natural resource to supplement another, without dire consequences? The State of Colorado, energy companies, and scientists seem to forget that about three years ago major lakes were almost dry and the Ogallala aquifer was being drained at an alarming rate. And now, Colorado municipalities want the courts to rule more favorably for access to the Platte River water supply for the cities, thereby taking away water from the farmers in the Platte River valley, where the corn is grown.
Has anyone taken the time and effort to factor in the water requirement for ethanol, especially in the Mid-west? Probably not, and here we go down the path of destruction or depletion of another natural resource because our scientists and politicians can’t seem to see the big picture or get the equation right. We’ll be driving around with ten percent ethanol filled tanks while we look for water, pay higher prices at the grocery store, and higher prices for gasoline enriched with ethanol. Sounds great we’re just grand when it comes to protecting the environment by leaving out key factors for an equation to solve a problem!
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There are many drawbacks to ethonal, among them water supplies. As mentioned in letter, meat prices go up, any food that is raised on corn. Dog food has corn in it, why I don't know, never seen a dog browsing in a corn field, but nonetheless, if all factors are considered, the cost of putting ethonal in fuel is probably 80% higher than the Politicians can calculate. Course some act like they can't add.....
Posted by sam18 on April 29, 2007 11:32 AMThere will be other unintended consequnces with ethanol. Any time a new resource is implemented something will pop up as a problem that was not anticipated. This is a start towards ending our oil dependency and we must be on the lookout for the consequnces. Lack of water is a concern here. Perhaps other corn growing and ehtanol refining states do not have the problems with lack of water that we have in Colorado. Nevertheless they will have some other problems. I have read that ethanol cannot be shpipped via pipelines since it deteriorates the material used in the pipes. Will this have an effect on our automobiles, and how much fuel will be needed to transport it via truck if this is true?
Posted by Art on April 29, 2007 05:00 PMoh but it will be so nice to drive down the highway smelling pop corn instead of the stinky exhaust we have now.
Posted by on April 30, 2007 07:07 AMIf they want to grow corn thats irrigated, and deplete water resources to the point the rest of us do not want to live here, and our rivers do not run.
Than they need to be taxed for depletion of the resource which is already happening.
Problems cropping up? yeh, there are many how about the ability to set leaks into watersheds on fire. I do not buy ethanol, and I never will!!!!!
Yes current plans are to use Corn for the making of ethenol, but what of other less water dependent crops for creating ethenol? Switchgrass, sugarbeets(not sure of total water needed), are viable options to corn. We can start to learn at least from the corn and work forward with better alternatives.
Posted by bwr on April 30, 2007 12:22 PMI'm all for ethenol if it will get those crazy middle easterners off our back. That would be wonderful!!!!
Posted by on May 2, 2007 05:24 PM