09-12-2012, 02:57 PM
The obvious solution is to stop producing ethanol. It's production uses more energy than the product offers and produces more emissions and greenhouse gas than the use of ethanol prevents. In addition, the acreage devoted to growing the raw material for its production (usually corn) could be better used to grow food.
Perhaps, since the tax credit for ethanol production expired in January, its use will decrease. Approximately 40% of the corn grown in the U.S. is used for ethanol production, driving up the cost of food products, especially those involving meat and poultry. This subsidy cost almost $6 billion in 2011, all in an effort to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Meanwhile, there's foreign oil aplenty not all that far away, although the Chinese are currently attempting to not only move much of it much farther away, but also to control its production. I'm speaking, of course, of Alberta's oil sands, the third largest proven reserves of oil on this planet.
Evidently, the Canadian government is no brighter than that of the U.S., as they seem to have no compunction about allowing control to slip from our grasp. Further to that, the plan is to export relatively unrefined product ( not the value-added stuff that creates jobs and wealth) not only missing out on that opportunity, but also foregoing control over the environmental impact of refineries not subject to the more stringent controls of North American governmental agencies. Anybody who thinks that pollution produced in Asia stays in Asia has their head up their....uh, their head in the ground.
Sorry for the rant, but this is one issue that just turns my crank.
Wayne
Perhaps, since the tax credit for ethanol production expired in January, its use will decrease. Approximately 40% of the corn grown in the U.S. is used for ethanol production, driving up the cost of food products, especially those involving meat and poultry. This subsidy cost almost $6 billion in 2011, all in an effort to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Meanwhile, there's foreign oil aplenty not all that far away, although the Chinese are currently attempting to not only move much of it much farther away, but also to control its production. I'm speaking, of course, of Alberta's oil sands, the third largest proven reserves of oil on this planet.
Evidently, the Canadian government is no brighter than that of the U.S., as they seem to have no compunction about allowing control to slip from our grasp. Further to that, the plan is to export relatively unrefined product ( not the value-added stuff that creates jobs and wealth) not only missing out on that opportunity, but also foregoing control over the environmental impact of refineries not subject to the more stringent controls of North American governmental agencies. Anybody who thinks that pollution produced in Asia stays in Asia has their head up their....uh, their head in the ground.
Sorry for the rant, but this is one issue that just turns my crank.
Wayne