Ethanol isn't sustainable or renewable, there is no way ever we could grow all our fuel and we don't even really get a net energy output from ethanol. More gas is used in the production of the cereals and conversion into ethanol than is derived from them. 1

The only way we can make Ethanol profitable is with government subsidies.

Ethanol is better than oil for the environment, but only by a negligible margin. Especially when damage from production is taken into account. 2

I guess.. I could understand investing a few million in ethanol for experimentation, but not 7 billion for mass production and a net loss of energy. 3 4

We should instead invest in fusion reactors that don't give us net energy but give us valuable research. Or rather solar panels which give us both. No reason to put more money in the oil companies pockets.

Exactly, I have been saying this for a long time. Ethanol is actually an energy sink, and its only benefit is to put money into the pockets of the corporate farming lobby.

Only a complete idiot would support ethanol, and guess what? We have a whole city full of them - Washington, DC.

Well here is my take on it.

1. Ethanol is a new technology. This isn’t Jethro and Bubba still. You will have to give it a several years before they refine the technology.
2. The price of corn and other foods have been going up because of gas. They really went up because of the Ethanol, but prices stabilize. If you concerned about food, grow your own, I am.
3. Big farming corporations who are making a profit off of their produce will not be subsidized in the future. Also they are paying triple the price for the seed to grow these crops.
4. The US government is banking on a diversified energy program. Percentage of Crude, Nuclear, Coal, and Ethanol (and hopefully on Hydrogen also).
5. Liberals and most Democrats will not let exploration or drilling of ANWAR. That hurts. It’s like complaining about being hungry, but you don’t want to get off your butt to hunt.
6. There are cons to Ethanol also; it is not energy efficient yet. But the hope of a new resource out weigh the short term cost of R&D. Along time ago, Jethro and Bubba made and used it for fuel, which was when gas cost 25 cents a gallon.
7. They have come out with a new fungus to use instead of food. This fungus is self sufficient and regenerated quickly, but still in the works.


http://biopact.com/2007/03/scientist...o-convert.html

What? So you think it’s a bad idea to use world food staples to supplement fuel consumption?

It's good for the environment man! Get with the program. Just because it actually destroys the environment and sets the stage for a worldwide famine you want to pull the plug? What kind of reactionary, fascist Klansman are you?

So we can starve third world countries into submission of course. No one will question the might of the USA!

(and to help our farmers, of course. This wouldn't be America without them!)

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The United States is the only country that burns its food supply. Do the eco-hippies actually think this is a good idea?

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"It's the rich people's fault they earn more." - Makedde

Ethanol was a political ploy to get votes from farmers in the Iowa Caucuses... It makes no sense economically, nor is it feasible.

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Yapping Idiot -- www.yappingidiot.com

Actually thats not true, it's used everywhere. Lots of countries subsidize it as well. I'm not even sure theres a country that has restricted it's use.

It's a crackpot idea. It'll put pressure on farmers and take up more land which we could be using for food. This is a short term solution to a leaking dam. Short term solutions just put it off for the next generation well guess what guys, it's your generations turn to sort this one out!

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I'll tell you this no eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn

Bolivia did