Global Warming Solution?

Once they grasped the imminent danger facing the global community, U.S. decision-makers had no choice but to act quickly, and so they did. Petroleum-based fuels are possibly the largest source of man-made carbon so it was only logical to reduce gasoline consumption. The solution proposed was to start blending ethanol (produced from corn) with gasoline. This has been going on long enough now that we can access the impact of this program.

Since the big push to use ethanol/gasoline blends:

Gasoline prices have continued to rise.

Food prices have risen significantly. Initially it was foods directly related to corn or corn syrup, but now the price increases are obvious in almost all food types.

Farmers are intending to use more of their land for corn (and less for other grains like wheat and oats) because the prices of corn are so high.

Around the world, available food supplies have become more scarce and prices have gone up significantly.

Riots over food supply and cost in places like Somalia have resulted in injury and death of people.

Scientists have determined that if you correctly analyze the carbon footprint of raising and processing corn, that there is little if any reduction in carbon emissions compared to petroleum production.

This should be a wake-up call to the decision-makers that they have to consider all factors when developing such a strategy. It is not acceptable to upset so many applecarts and then have no environmental benefit to show for it. There will not be one perfect solution. Rather many, many trade-offs will need to be considered.

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Dennis