Food Report Criticizes Biofuel Policies

From the New York Times. "The energy security, environmental and economic benefits of biofuels production based on agricultural commodity feed stocks are at best modest, and sometimes even negative," says the report, prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. "Alternative approaches may be considered that offer potentially greater benefits with less of the unintended market impact."

Ethanol Mandates Cause Rising Food Prices

Guest commentary from John Lott a senior research scientist at the University of Maryland. Contains a lot of the same points you've seen over and over.

Rising Food Costs

From the New American... "Perhaps most conspicuous have been the accusations against ethanol producers. The diversion of vast acreages of corn to the production of ethanol rather than food has come suddenly under intense international scrutiny, and well it might. "

Some Biofuels Might Do More Harm Than Good To The Environment, Study Finds

A new study from the University of Washington takes a look at sustainability and the ecological footprint of ethanol. "The study looked at factors such as the energy needed to produce a renewable fuel source compared with how much energy is produced, the impact on soil fertility and effects on food supply when fuels based on crops such as corn and soybeans are mixed with fossil fuels. Based on those factors, the authors determined that corn-based ethanol is the worst alternative overall."

Ethanol: Don't waste food

Another one from the Charleston Gazette, that basically says the same thing. "In April, commenting on international food riots, George Bush said he supports corn ethanol... Fine. But the fuel should be produced from other plants, not from a pillar of the food supply. It's also in America's national interest to prevent hunger and dangerous unrest in parts of the world that are unstable or may not like us."

Congress can help ease food prices

From the Dallas Morning News Editorial page today. "We're all for developing alternative energy sources for conservation, environmental and national security reasons, and biofuels have an important role to play. But corn-based ethanol is playing a less significant role than expected on the environmental front and has become a major driver in escalating food prices.
Easing the ethanol requirement could ease family budgets. Congress needs to act now."

Have a Great Memorial Day Weekend

Hopefully you can enjoy some time off, but more importantly, take some time to remember those that have served our country.

Not that I get many comments other than spam, but I will be turning on the comment moderation feature for the weekend so that I can forget about cleaning out spam comments and focus on enjoying a few days off. If you leave a comment, it will not show up until Tuesday. Have a great weekend.

Ethanol Vehicles for Post Office Burn More Gas, Get Fewer Miles

Ouch. The US Postal Service started converting their fleet over to ethanol capable vehicles and are finding out that the 29% lower mileage is costing them money. I wonder when they placed the order? If it was within the last year, someone in purchasing should have done a Google search and read this year old article at Edmunds comparing ethanol and gasoline. Their Tahoe on ethanol got 13.5 mpg on the road vs. 18.3 when running gasoline.

How Biofuels Could Starve the Poor

Several interesting facts in this article from last years Foreign Affairs. The one that stuck out is that it takes 450 pounds of corn to produce 25 gallons of ethanol. That's incredible to think about. Space wise, that's probably takes up as much room as an SUV. I wonder what happens to all of the byproduct?

Ethanol faces backlash over the rising cost of food

"After years of generally favorable feelings toward ethanol as a "green" alternative to foreign oil, consumers are asking whether the corn-based gasoline additive is driving up food costs." This is a nice evenly balanced article from the Indy Star that looks at both sides of the issue.

New breed of American emerges in need of food

This is a really sad story in USA Today about the huge number of people on food stamps. Saddest line was, "Kindergarteners in Baton Rouge are hoarding part of their lunches to eat later at home, says Mike Manning, president of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. " Personally, I think if you're going to subsidize anything, you should subsidize food production. People can always find a way to get around. Might be walking, but I'd rather eat and walk than drive and starve. Not that fuel is any great bargin these days.

Restaurants grapple with higher food costs, diners' need to pinch pennies

From the Dallas Morning News... "Chief executives at two of the nation's largest restaurant companies are urging fellow operators to keep restaurant meals affordable for consumers, even as food costs skyrocket."

Pricier US chicken coming to a store near you

Chief executives at the two largest U.S. chicken companies said on Thursday that chicken prices must go higher to offset the industry's higher production costs.

A swift rise in the price of corn, a major feed stock, has been particularly troublesome...

It's time to kill corn subsidies and go Brazilian

From Canada, an article discussing the benefits of killing off subsidies and using some of that Brazilian sugar cane ethanol. It's cheaper and better for the environment. Three days later, a Trevor Giles weighs in saying that with that plan, you'd be increasing deforestation and that "if governments simply toughened up fleet emission standards for cars by 10 per cent in North America, ethanol wouldn't be needed."

Somewhat off topic, I wonder what this year's corn palace theme be?

High Cost of Ethanol

From the Wisconsin State Journal... Move over "Bridge to Nowhere, " there 's a new poster child of congressional waste and avarice -- ethanol, the "Fuel to Nowhere. " Ethanol leads only to higher food prices and greater greenhouse gas emissions.

Rethinking Ethanol

From the New York Times, Congress should realign its tax and subsidy programs to encourage the biofuels that will not compete for the world’s food supply.

The EFuel100 MicroFueler

Somewhat off topic, but this is very cool! Make you own ethanol at home. You can make up to 75 gallons a week. Take a look at the datasheet and I think you'll see we used to be called a moonshine still.

Bush Comment on Food Crisis Brings Anger, Ridicule in India

In an effort to make sure that every country hates us, Bush blames food shortages and high grocery costs on... India! Wow, where did that come from? Best line..."If Indians start eating like Americans, the world would have to grow food on the moon." Just in case you weren't clear, it's the ethanol subsidies, not middle class Indians.

Ethanol vs. food debate growing

From today's Chicago Tribune... Pretty much a re-has of the same story. (High grocery prices, no impact on gas prices, Archer Daniels Midland getting rich.) "Maybe this is nature's way of teaching us not to eat so much."

Totally unrelated, but today is a Woot-off. Get your cheap stuff!

The Biofuels Backlash

From the Wall Street Journal, this is a pretty entertaining read on a pretty dry subject. Basically its says ethanol subsidies are bad for the environment, economy and your pocketbook. My favorite quote...

We knew for sure the tide had turned when Time magazine's recent cover story, "The Clean Energy Myth," described how turning crops into fuel increases both food prices and atmospheric CO2. No one captures elite green wisdom better than Time's Manhattan editors. Can Vanity Fair be far behind?

Corn Ethanol Loses More Support

From the Wall Street Journal a couple of days ago. It looks like some politicians are coming to their senses.

"Two dozen Republican senators on Friday -- including Republican presidential candidate John McCain (R., Ariz.) -- asked the Environmental Protection Agency to ease requirements mandated by Congress in 2007 to blend more ethanol and other renewable fuels into the gasoline supply."

This could be a good sign...

The Dangers of Ethanol

Fortune talks about food riots and the impact of ethanol subsidies. "But devoting vast acreage of America's breadbasket to fuel - about a third of the U.S. corn crop is dedicated to ethanol - is a really terrible idea, as we're now seeing."

Even Presidents Sing the Cash Blues

Apparently Pres. Bush is complaining about house prices in Dallas. Wait until he has to go to the grocery store. Unfortunately, it will be too late for him to do something. Maybe he'll end ethanol subsidies and production mandates before he has to start buying his own groceries.

Food Crisis Shows How Bad Policies Can Be Deadly

Sometimes, bad economic policies create small annoyances. Sometimes, they lead to catastrophes... Interesting article that shows how the heavily subsidized production of corn-based ethanol is causing food riots around the world.

It Turns Out Ethanol is More of a Problem Than a Solution

State Rep. Joyce Peppin, R-Rogers has some interesting information about ethanol production.