Letter to the Editors

Published April 25, 2007

By Paul Vallett

A recent article in The Water Tower examined the issues surrounding the usage of ethanol as a replacement for petroleum based fuels. While the article raises some key challenges surrounding ethanol production from corn, it has overlooked some key facts and research that add to the potential benefits arising from using ethanol as part of our world’s energy portfolio.

Clearly corn based ethanol cannot be the entire solution to the future liquid fuels shortage, but it can play a large part in helping the transition process away from fossil fuels in the short term while giving research and development time to produce the next generation of technology transportation.

Focusing only on ethanol based on corn grown domestically is a drastic limitation of the potential sources of ethanol. If one considers the growth of sugarcane worldwide this may become an important source of ethanol. Regions with tropical climates have year-round growing seasons and production of local biofuels could bolster traditionally economically poor areas.

In terms of emissions, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are only increased when low amounts of ethanol are mixed with gasoline. When higher mixtures like 85% ethanol are used, emissions drop off substantially.

Clearly no fuel by itself can become the ‘magic bullet’ needed to solve the energy problems of the future. Ethanol has the ability to provide us with a significant source of clean, renewable, carbon neutral, energy. We should applaud and support the men and women working hard to provide us with sustainable energy solutions for our future and educate ourselves about the facts.

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