LMS Post Response to Momentum Slows for Alternative Energy

This post was in response to the NY Times article "Alternative Energy Suddenly Faces Headwinds." My response was directed at biofuels and ethanol production as it had been my assignment to present to the class on this topic the night before in Science of Sustainability class.

I know this may not go directly to Wall Street's trickle down, however, it does deal with a $300 billion dollar bail out this past summer for agriculture, much of it to monocrop corn. As many of you heard in Science of Sustainability last night, our group discussed biofuels, and I really feel that there is a massive public misconception about how this is going to save out automobile dependent lifestyles. I think that it merits noting the record of how both candidates feel about supporting more bailout subsidies for ethanol. Obama supports the subsidies as of now despite environmental scientists pointing out that corn is not the answer. McCain at one time heavily supported them (A view that may have led to extensive bailouts this past summer.) and now states that he does not support any agricultural subsidies for ethanol or otherwise.

Either way, to me it seems like the battlefield over farm state votes is making this more an issue that is getting far less press, what do do about the skyrocketing prices of corn and other grain commodities due to the misappropriation of funds towards agronomy rather than towards the development of technology to use cellulose-based ethanol/biofuel. Also, no one is discussing how ethanol and biofuels are not a clear substitute for gasoline and that currently the energy net is arguably not a positive one depending on whether coal or natural gas are used in prodution. Also, the fact that engine technology does not allow use of straight ethanol, but rather of gasoline mixed with ethanol (E85), in current engines, or that we do not have an endless supply of natural gas in this country (needed for production), leading us to have to potentially import what we need from Canada....

Basically, it comes down to a push for agriculture which is water intensive, fertilizer heavy, fossil fuel laden, and takes food out of the mouths of those in poverty, a number which is exponentially rising both in the United States and globally. What it should be is a push for the technology to use other available naturally occurring sources of cellulose and an energy message to Americans to make a sharp cutback on their gas consumption instead of coddling them over rising prices and promising a future of gasoline independence which ethanol cannot realistically deliver in order to gain votes. And a sharp kick in the brain over how potable water is not endless when you turn on the tap wouldn't hurt either.