Ethanol, continued: creates heat over energy production

Another voice raised in doubt about whether ethanol production is really environmentally friendly. Here's an editorial in a Columbus newspaper explaining why it opposes a new ethanol plant in the area. Water pollution.

Of course, the U.S. government is SLOWLY pushing ahead with renewable fuels. The target is abouit 4% for this year. Here's the EPA website on its move to increase the amount of renewable fuel burned annually in the U.S. One of its cover photos is an ear of corn, and that means ethanol.

We've discussed the American corn subsidy in past blogs. Some experts now argue that corn intoethanol is already a profitable business in the U.S. Subsidies just make it all the more profitable. Where there's money to be made on selling fuel, the equation tends to ignore issues like secondary pollution of air or water.