Correction. I wrote:
P&P, p. 263: "Even when the energy in byproducts is included, the energy output from ethanol production ranges from 8,700 BTU to 108,000 BTU per gallon, compared with more than 131,000 BTU . . ."
That should be 87,000 BTU to 108,000 BTU.
The actual heat output from the ethanol is 76,000 BTU. The other energy is from leftovers that can be used for things such as animal feed.
U.S. groundwater is being "mined" for agriculture about 25% faster than it can be reformed. Topsoil, as I said, is being depleted 18 times faster than it is reformed. As an environmentalist once remarked, we treat the earth as if we have another planet in our back pocket.
In addition to the problems I listed previously, ethanol production generates 160 gallons of wastewater per gallon of ethanol. (p. 267) Apparently, most of the wastewater is dumped into rivers untreated, but if it were cleaned up properly it would add to the energy overhead, and it would cost an additional $0.06 per gallon for the ethanol. (I expect most of the factories are in rural areas with lax pollution control standards.) Also, vast quantities of pesticides and fertilizer are used to grow the corn.
All in all, ethanol and most other "biomass" energy sources are an environmentalist's worst nightmare. I cannot imagine how they ever gained cachet in the environmentalist movement. I am sorry to say this, but I suppose the reason is that many environmentalists do not understand natural science, energy, technology, agriculture or economics. Many "conservative" opponents are equally ignorant, but that does not help. Unfortunately, the stupidity on both sides does not balance out.
The ~$800 million annual Federal subsidies and tax breaks for ethanol have nothing remotely to do with environmentalism. This is federal largess. It is a gift to the big agribusiness corporations, especially ADM, which has earned $10 billion in tax giveaways since 1980. For a breakdown of the costs, see:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/servicerpt/subsidy/table_es1.html
http://www.cato.org/dailys/10-02-97.html
- Jed
