Ethanol

James Pelkey

AGEC 429

10-4-2010

Writing Assignment #2

Ethanol has become a major issue in the United States. After states began banning the use of MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether), gasoline producers began using ethanol as a substitute for gasoline. Many fuel industries and government officials are strongly in favor of the production of ethanol because it’s renewable and benefits the environment. Others argue that ethanol requires more energy to produce than it provides.

I’m persuaded that producing ethanol is detrimental to our society. Ethanol is less efficient than gasoline and creates more smog and emissions. Producing ethanol will require us to use farmland for fuel crops. Studies have shown that ethanol has a tendency to destroy cars.

Science suggests that using ethanol increases global warming emissions over gasoline. In the case API v. EPA, EPA’s attorneys had to admit that ethanol creates more smog than gasoline. In 2009, Lexus orders a massive recall for all 2006 to 2008 models because ethanol fuels with low moisture content corrodes the internal surface of the fuel rails. If you use the EPA’s fuel mileage standards, all fuels mixed with ethanol reduce vehicles fuel efficiency thirty to forty percent.

Based on all the information I gathered I stand against the production of ethanol. Smog and emissions increase the concern about global warming. Car manufacturers are struggling to produce cars that can run on ethanol fuel. Most importantly, ethanol requires more energy to produce it than it provides, resulting in higher costs for less production.

Wallace, Ed. "The Great Ethanol Scam - BusinessWeek." BusinessWeek - Business News, Stock Market & Financial Advice. 14 May 2009. Web. 04 Oct. 2010. <http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/may2009/bw20090514_058678.htm>.

Squatriglia, Chuck. "Another Argument Against Ethanol | Autopia | Wired.com." Wired News. 26 May 2009. Web. 04 Oct. 2010....