The pros and cons of biofuels
April 29th, 2008
Pluses: May reduce U.S. reliance on oil imports and enable moderate reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases compared with oil. Fosters the building of biofuels infrastructure.
Minuses: Ethanol is energy intensive to produce, and the recent boom has pushed corn prices to more than $5 a bushel (from $2 in 2006). That is increasing the cost of everything from beef to soft drinks. The biofuels craze is helping drive up grain prices worldwide as farmers devote more acres to corn and less to other crops. Over 450 pounds of corn are needed to fill a 25-gallon tank with ethanol_ enough calories to feed a person for a year
The dangers of ethanol?
April 29th, 2008
The dangers of ethanol
Rising gas and food prices show the risk in economic miracles.
By Allan Sloan, senior editor at large
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The pros and cons of biofuels
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(Fortune Magazine) — Now that milk and gasoline can cost $3.50 each, filling up your grocery cart or SUV has become an exercise in pain. Most people just wince, pay, and get along as best they can. But someone like me can’t help but see these price spikes as a nasty side effect of America’s ethanol program. How nasty? Think of the recent film starring Will Smith, “I Am Legend.”
The dangers of ethanol?