Ethanol as waypoint, not destination
Back in the 1980s, ethanol was seen as a nice idea that could potentially be used as a fuel source, but not as a viable alternative to gasoline. It took more energy to produce biofuels than they created, and the process was expensive. Fast forward to today’s energy concerns. Ethanol has become more than just a neat science project. It is a billion dollar industry which is helping countries gain a foothold in the world economy. Countries like Brazil, whose major exports used to be crops and textiles, are now supplying fuel-hungry economies across the globe with ethanol. As the United States seeks to end its dependence on foreign oil, more Capitol Hill legislation is making mandates for auto industry platform standards and fuel station distribution.
In the public’s eagerness to grasp at an idea that reduces our gas consumption, sometimes things become over-simplified. When most people think about ethanol, they think about corn. Then all the bad news comes out. Corn ethanol isn’t as efficient as gasoline. The production of corn ethanol creates more green house gases than traditional gasoline. Corn as a food source is being diverted from starving children so that people can run their cars! It’s enough to make anyone look at ethanol and think, “Why bother?”
However, ethanol is not just about corn. Millions in research and testing have been spent and will continue to be spent in developing ethanol from other sources like sugarcane. Cellulosic ethanol can be produced from vegetable oil and animal fats. Studies hope to produce energy by replicating the microbes in termite guts to breakdown cornstalks, woodchips, switchgrass, and weeds. Yeah, you read that right — termite guts. Companies like Dupont and Genencor are investing in this technology to the tune of $140 million.
Perhaps the most amazing and surprising source of ethanol to date is in the form of waste beer. Very similar to the “party foul” form of alcohol abuse found on Beirut tables nationwide, waste beer is the spill off beer from production bottling or substandard batches created at major breweries. The Coors Brewing Golden plant produces about three million gallons a year. They are the first major brewery to have converted their waste beer into ethanol, starting the program back in 1996. Most recently, they’ve decided to contribute all the flex-fuel needs for the DNC party in Denver this 2008.
The truth of the matter is ethanol is not the only answer to our energy problems. Ethanol is just a stop along the line towards developing alternatives to fossil fuels. Hybrids, biodiesels, and fuel cell technologies are making practical strides, albeit mostly in countries outside the United States. In fact, an operating tour bus in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania is currently capable of bringing up to twenty two folks around town in a quiet and low-emission fashion using hybrid fuel cell technology. Toyota is quite happy with the 20,000 hybrid units it sold in North America last month, up 67% from last year.
While interest in the technology continues to rise, the American public’s desire for alternative fuel source vehicles is really being stymied by the lack of supporting infrastructure. E85 pumps are few and far between except in targeted areas. The cost of installing a pump and maintaining regular delivery schedules just isn’t economically sound for most gas station owners. Proponents argue “If you build it, they will come”, while opponents say that most self-owned service station operators can’t afford to manage a resource that doesn’t sell. Much as the government backed highway system which helped to propel the usability of cars, ethanol will probably need the government to step in and create a fuel station infrastructure to help it turn the corner.
As more U.S. drivers are drawn to alternative fuels, a combination of business interests, better technology, and government support will likely make ethanol a reality. Our understanding of biofuels will expand beyond corn to include many waste products and ingenious sources that don’t have as big an impact on the environment. The public is ready for a change, and it’s time for necessity to breed invention.
By Alicen Hogan