Monday, September 24, 2007
Ethanol Emissions... Worse Than Fossil Fuels
I heard this one traveling around the halls today, but also found the article to support the rumors. I am blown away by this. There have been many reasons to shy away from using corn ethanol as an alternative fuel (the fact that it takes more energy to create than you actually get out of it for one), but this one is a deal breaker. Most people are under the impression that Carbon is the sole cause of global warming, specifically CO2, but that is simply not the case. Many compounds have similar or in the case of Nitrous Oxide (N2O) far more severe effects. Lets just hope that the Senate gets this story and they stop mandating and subsidizing the use of corn ethanol. Something tells me they won't be getting this message, sadly.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
The Stanford study you refer to has some serious flaws and lapses in common sense. The American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest, which knows a thing or two about air pollution, is a strong supporter of E85 and biodiesel.
See more here: www.CleanAirChoice.org
For more on our residential indoor air program, Health House, visit:
www.HealthHouse.org
Editors note - The article linked above makes no mention of the Stanford study (which discussed the fact that ethanol and E85 fuels may actually be more unhealthy than gasoline emissions). The article above discusses the increase in N2O emissions in ethanol and other biofuels. The fact is that N2O will eventually break down in the atmosphere, in about 150-180 years, and destroy the O-Zone layer in the process. There is a lot of misinformation out there as well about how you can clean out N2O using a catylitic converter, this is also incorrect. The use of a catyltic converter can actually INCREASE the Nitrous Oxides. Feel free to read more here: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/alternate/page/environment/chap2.html
The following is the exerpt on N2O;
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is also a powerful GHG. It stays in the atmosphere for 150-180 years, eventually floating up into the stratosphere where it helps destroy the ozone layer. Its concentration is increasing by 0.2 percent to 0.3 percent per year. Its main source is the tropics, but roughly 20 percent of nitrous oxide emissions result from manufacturing and using chemical fertilizers and from burning fossil fuels. The increased use of emission control devices like catalytic converters in internal combustion engines contributes further to these emissions. The use of fertilizers in growing corn for ethanol is the major component of the ethanol fuel cycle's high nitrous oxide emission.
Post a Comment