Study Suggests Ethanol May Cause More Smog, Deaths
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EddieS'04
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TAKEN FROM THE ABOVE CITED ARTICLE:
Of course, the study author acknowledges that such a quick and monumental shift to plant-based fuels is next to impossible.
Jacobson's study troubles some environmentalists, even those who work with him. Roland Hwang of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said that ethanol, which cuts one of the key ingredients of smog and produces fewer greenhouse gases, is an important part of reducing all kinds of air pollution.
Jacobson's conclusion "is a provocative concept that is not workable," said Hwang, an engineer who used to work for California's state pollution control agency. "There's nothing in here that means we should throw away ethanol."
While praising Jacobson as one of the top atmospheric chemists in the nation, Hwang said he had problems with some of Jacobson's assumptions, such as an entire switch to ethanol by 2020. Also, he said that the ozone difference that Jacobson finds is so small that it may be in the margin of error of calculations.
Jacobson is also ignoring that ethanol - especially the kind made from cellulose, like switchgrass - reduces greenhouse gases, which cause global warming. And global warming will increase smog and smog-related deaths, an international scientific panel just found this month, Hwang said.
You can find an argument for or against anything, even from some apparently reputable persons.
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Of course, the study author acknowledges that such a quick and monumental shift to plant-based fuels is next to impossible.
Jacobson's study troubles some environmentalists, even those who work with him. Roland Hwang of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said that ethanol, which cuts one of the key ingredients of smog and produces fewer greenhouse gases, is an important part of reducing all kinds of air pollution.
Jacobson's conclusion "is a provocative concept that is not workable," said Hwang, an engineer who used to work for California's state pollution control agency. "There's nothing in here that means we should throw away ethanol."
While praising Jacobson as one of the top atmospheric chemists in the nation, Hwang said he had problems with some of Jacobson's assumptions, such as an entire switch to ethanol by 2020. Also, he said that the ozone difference that Jacobson finds is so small that it may be in the margin of error of calculations.
Jacobson is also ignoring that ethanol - especially the kind made from cellulose, like switchgrass - reduces greenhouse gases, which cause global warming. And global warming will increase smog and smog-related deaths, an international scientific panel just found this month, Hwang said.
You can find an argument for or against anything, even from some apparently reputable persons.
D-
Jeffksf B
Well-Known Member
Keep in mind the rise in food prices because the corn being produced will be diverted to Ethanol production therefore hurting the food industry and causing price increases. And the fact that vehicles when using e85 get on average 15% to 25% worse fuel economy, how will it really help?
Benjamin Feinstein
Active Member
Lets also not forget that oil prices continue to rise and that once oil runs out we will have more to worry about then the rising costs of food due to the production of E85.
E85 may not be the perfect solution to energy needs but it is a step in the right direction. The sooner this country can rely on its self for energy needs the sooner we can tell Saudi Araiba and the other oil producing countries to pound sand.
E85 is a renewable source of energy unlike oil that will run out eventually. Would you rather wait for that to happen before finding another source for energy?
E85 may not be the perfect solution to energy needs but it is a step in the right direction. The sooner this country can rely on its self for energy needs the sooner we can tell Saudi Araiba and the other oil producing countries to pound sand.
E85 is a renewable source of energy unlike oil that will run out eventually. Would you rather wait for that to happen before finding another source for energy?
The key is to diversify. We have the vehicles and fuel alternatives available NOW. Putting all our eggs in one basket is what got us in this.
Prices have already gone up.
The misnomer is that somehow we're going to use the food we eat, corn, to make fuel, WRONG!
Efforts are being made to use a host of different sources for developing ethanol from by products that we don't consume. Switchgrass grows wild, cornhusks, etc.
The important thing will be that no one source becomes our only fuel supply, some people can continue using fossil fuels, while others can have vehicles that are hybrids, or use hydrogen cells, ehtanol, or bio-diesel, and so forth.
D-
Prices have already gone up.
The misnomer is that somehow we're going to use the food we eat, corn, to make fuel, WRONG!
Efforts are being made to use a host of different sources for developing ethanol from by products that we don't consume. Switchgrass grows wild, cornhusks, etc.
The important thing will be that no one source becomes our only fuel supply, some people can continue using fossil fuels, while others can have vehicles that are hybrids, or use hydrogen cells, ehtanol, or bio-diesel, and so forth.
D-
