scrAPES Week 1
Topic: Can Ethanol from Corn Be Made Sustainable?
By: David Biello of the Scientific American
Date: February 20, 2013
Summary
Corn plants, mainly grown for their use as a main ingredient of cellulosic and noncellulosic ethanol, have recently been introduced as a source of biofuel. However, the U.S. government has considered the idea of abstaining from supporting the industry due to being an established fuel and high expectations of biofuel outcome, despite there being a limit on production due to technological development. Along with growing corn costs due to drought and increasing use of corn as fuel, the ethanol industry is need of the annual subsidies the government wishes to stop.
Reflection
Because I am interested in any alternative fuels that could possibly replace oil, I believe, as stated in the article, that the use of ethanol is fairly new and that the opportunity to use an alternative to our finite supply of oil is something that should not be taken lightly. Due to our use of oil, prices have gone up and we do, in fact, need other alternatives in case oil disappears from our grasp. If the U.S. government stops the annual subsidiaries granted to the ethanol industry, despite it not being fully efficient as of yet, then the opportunity of producing this fuel will disappear, which is why I agree that funding should be continued until the industry has established a strong foothold.
By: David Biello of the Scientific American
Date: February 20, 2013
Summary
Corn plants, mainly grown for their use as a main ingredient of cellulosic and noncellulosic ethanol, have recently been introduced as a source of biofuel. However, the U.S. government has considered the idea of abstaining from supporting the industry due to being an established fuel and high expectations of biofuel outcome, despite there being a limit on production due to technological development. Along with growing corn costs due to drought and increasing use of corn as fuel, the ethanol industry is need of the annual subsidies the government wishes to stop.
Reflection
Because I am interested in any alternative fuels that could possibly replace oil, I believe, as stated in the article, that the use of ethanol is fairly new and that the opportunity to use an alternative to our finite supply of oil is something that should not be taken lightly. Due to our use of oil, prices have gone up and we do, in fact, need other alternatives in case oil disappears from our grasp. If the U.S. government stops the annual subsidiaries granted to the ethanol industry, despite it not being fully efficient as of yet, then the opportunity of producing this fuel will disappear, which is why I agree that funding should be continued until the industry has established a strong foothold.