THE STRAIGHT DOPE 11/28/2003
Dear Cecil:
We are from a
farming community that grows a lot of corn.
Ethanol (alcohol) and corn
production are both heavily
subsidized. My thinking is that they both are
"pork
barrel" projects. Doesn't it take as much or more fossil
fuel energy
to produce a given amount of ethanol energy?
Maybe the ethanol lobbyists and
producers aren't telling
us the full story? --Roger R., the
midwest
~~~~~~
Cecil replies:
Maybe not, but who can
blame them? The full story seems to
be that ethanol subsidies are a complete
waste. One can't
expect a lobbyist to walk into a farm belt
congressperson's
office and say, "Sir or madam, ethanol subsidies
don't
reduce our dependence on foreign oil, alleviate air
pollution, or
benefit the country in any other demonstrable
way. A large portion of the
money goes directly into the
coffers of a single multibillion-dollar
corporation. Some
experts say that manufacturing ethanol consumes more
energy
than the fuel produces. In fact, all the ethanol
industry
dependably generates is profits for itself and
campaign
contributions for you. Can we count on your
vote?"