[MotoSook]

Developing A Sustainable Ethanol Industry
If we identify other major problems with com ethanol perhaps it may give us some clues to what we really need in developing an ethanol industry that has potential to significantly reduce gasoline requirements. First of all, the energy yield of corn is too low if H is to put a dent in the sea of oil coming into North America. A crop with much higher biomass yield and wider adaptability is required. It must be more energy efficient to grow than corn as well. The annual tillage, planting, spraying, fertilizing and drying of corn gives H a poor energy balance. Corn is also environmentally leaky, nitrogen fertilizer and pesticides get into ground water and soil erodes.

Something that protects the environment and requires lower inputs is required. As well, the corn byproduct market would be swamped if corn ethanol was produced in North America in a major way to compete with gasoline. A ready market is required for additional byproducts generated during the production of ethanol.

One of the biggest problems with the C02 balance of corn ethanol in the U.S. is the great quantity of CO2 liberated by using coal as an energy source in the milling and conversion of corn into ethanol. The energy required in the milling process needs to be reduced, but perhaps more importantly a cleaner electricity source than coal needs to be developed to reduce CO2 emissions.

The final problem with corn ethanol, as previously mentioned, is that annual grain crops are hard on the soil and release C02 from the loss of soil organic matter. It would be highly desirable if the crop could increase soil organic matter.

http://www.eap.mcgill.ca/magrack/SF/Winter%2091%20M.htm