Anti-Ethanol Calls

With less than two weeks remaining for comments to be submitted regarding the EPA’s proposal to cut the amount of corn ethanol required under the Renewable Fuels Standard things are really starting to heat up. In fact, some farmers have reported that they are receiving phone calls from the American Petroleum Institute urging them to submit comments against the RFS. The API would like as many farmers as possible to sign on to a letter stating that ethanol is poor for many reasons, claiming it raises food costs and is harmful to car engines. So are these claims true. According to the American Coalition For Ethanol the answer would be no. ACE says that “the role of corn and ethanol in grocery prices has been grossly exaggerated by critics who have much to gain in keeping ethanol's potential limited.” And in fact, “energy prices have a much more dramatic impact on food prices because all foods are dependent upon this expensive energy for processing, packaging, and transportation.” There are many myths surrounding ethanol, we just have to sort through them to uncover the true science.