U.S. corn-based ethanol worse for the climate than gasoline, study finds

[spike021]

Feb 14 (Reuters) - Corn-based ethanol, which for years has been mixed in huge quantities into gasoline sold at U.S. pumps, is likely a much bigger contributor to global warming than straight gasoline, according to a study published Monday.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, contradicts previous research commissioned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) showing ethanol and other biofuels to be relatively green.

President Joe Biden's administration is reviewing policies on biofuels as part of a broader effort to decarbonize the U.S. economy by 2050 to fight climate change.

“Corn ethanol is not a climate-friendly fuel,” said Dr. Tyler Lark, assistant scientist at University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment and lead author of the study.

The research, which was funded in part by the National Wildlife Federation and U.S. Department of Energy, found that ethanol is likely at least 24% more carbon-intensive than gasoline due to emissions resulting from land use changes to grow corn, along with processing and combustion.

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Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, the ethanol trade lobby, called the study "completely fictional and erroneous," arguing the authors used "worst-case assumptions [and] cherry-picked data."

Under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), a law enacted in 2005, the nation's oil refiners are required to mix some 15 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol into the nation's gasoline annually. The policy was intended to reduce emissions, support farmers, and cut U.S. dependence on energy imports.

As a result of the mandate, corn cultivation grew 8.7% and expanded into 6.9 million additional acres of land between 2008 and 2016, the study found. That led to widespread changes in land use, including the tilling of cropland that would otherwise have been retired or enrolled in conservation programs and the planting of existing cropland with more corn, the study found.

Tilling fields releases carbon stored in soil, while other farming activities, like applying nitrogen fertilizers, also produce emissions.

A 2019 study from the USDA, which has been broadly cited by the biofuel industry, found that ethanol’s carbon intensity was 39% lower than gasoline, in part because of carbon sequestration associated with planting new cropland.

But that research underestimated the emissions impact of land conversion, Lark said.

USDA did not respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which administers the nation's biofuel policy, is considering changes to the program. Under the RFS, Congress set blending requirements through 2022, but not beyond, giving the EPA authority to impose reforms. EPA plans to propose 2023 requirements in May.

via https://www.reuters.com/business/env...ds-2022-02-14/

[WolfpackS2k]

But but but, it's "sustainable".

[Tcoat]

This has been posted before. I will say the same thing I did that time.
If you try hard enough you cam make anything look bad and bad gets headlines.
For every study like this that says it is bad there are 1,000 that dispute it.
This was a study that wanted a certain result and they worked hard to massage the data to get it.

[Arthur-A]

Originally Posted by spike021

via https://www.reuters.com/business/env...ds-2022-02-14/

[DarkPira7e]

Thank goodness electricity is generated without any use of fossil fuels! Oh wait

[Capt Spaulding]

Originally Posted by DarkPira7e

Thank goodness electricity is generated without any use of fossil fuels! Oh wait

Mine is. Well, Sorta

[DarkPira7e]

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

Mine is. Well, Sorta

Solar and wind can't hope to fuel even America's energy needs in an effort to replace fossil fuels being used in vehicles, is more what I meant


Unless they want to give everyone free solar panels with the purchase of an electric vehicle

[WolfpackS2k]

Gonna get locked in

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[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

Gonna get locked in

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Why? Some of us can have a conversation without getting all political activist.

[Teseo]

Stupid Greta and her "dare you!" #FreeTates

[spike021]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

Gonna get locked in

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having COVID discussion thread(s) flashbacks

[Ultramaroon]

Not news. Takes way more energy to grow and process than just pumping/burning oil.

I didn't read the article. Did I get it right?

[cjd]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Not news. Takes way more energy to grow and process than just pumping/burning oil.

I didn't read the article. Did I get it right?

No. It assumes it's not made using surplus crop and instead needs to clear all new land... As mentioned, it looks for a way to say what they want to say.

[Sapphireho]

Funny how old capped off oil wells are suddenly full again. Earth makes more. Go figure.