----- Original Message -----
In
that we supply farmers I seriously doubt that it takes a half gallon of fossil
fuel to produce a bushel of corn, but when I find someone who knows I will
report.
Ethanol is a good part of the solution, we just have to make sure it is
economic.
Ethanol is also part of the solution for clean air.
----- Response
-----
A half gallon per bushel
seems high, but I have no first hand knowledge of that or of how much
ethanol can be extracted from
a bushel. But more energy than just tractor fuel goes into
the
production of farm
commodities: (from today's StarTribune opinion page)
"......
A controversial report
published in the Encyclopedia of Physical Sciences and Technology in 2001 by
Cornell University agricultural scientist David Pimentel concluded that it
takes up to 131,000 Btu to produce 1 gallon of ethanol which yields 77,000
Btu. The energy to produce ethanol comes mostly from fossil fuels like oil and
gas. Fossil fuels are used to power farm machinery, produce fertilizer and
manufacture agrichemicals. Additional fossil fuels are needed to transport and
process corn into alcohol .......
.... the idea that
gasohol will supplant fossil fuels in any significant way is a myth. .....
Rather than focus on gasohol, Pawlenty should promote ways that Minnesota can
reduce overall energy consumption. For example, a truly bold initiative would
be to bond for mass transport ....
Dennis N. Nielsen, of Oakdale,
is professor emeritus of geology at Winona State
University.
And with people commuting from Saint
Paul to jobs in Winona (or visa-versa), energy usage
will continue to be a hot
topic. John N.
Finn
