Busting the 5 Myths of Ethanol: Myth #3

Most can agree that this spring and summer haven’t necessarily been normal, or least when speaking of Mother Nature. Between flooding along the Missouri to storms wiping out entire communities across the Midwest, we can definitely say that there has been some extreme weather. Some say that the reason for all of this unusual weather is due to climate change. They claim that climate change is being caused by the large amounts of greenhouse gases that are being given off by different industries. Unfortunately, the ethanol industry is one of the industries being associated with the cause of climate change.

This leads us to our third myth, which is that ethanol crops and production emits more greenhouse gases than gasoline. The answer to this myth is FALSE, and that ethanol actually reduces the amount of emissions given off by cars. A study done by the EPA back in 1996 found that gasoline powered vehicles and non-road equipment are actually the largest contributors to air pollution. Another study showed that ethanol actually reduces tailpipe carbon monoxide by as much as 30 percent, while also reducing tailpipe particulate matter emissions by 50 percent.

Not only is the ethanol being burned in cars cleaner than gasoline, but the entire lifecycle of ethanol is much more environmentally friendly than gasoline. A lifecycle analysis of ethanol showed that using ethanol currently and in the future will actually reduce greenhouse gases by more than 20 percent compared to the continuation of using gasoline. However, ethanol is not the only thing reducing CO2 emissions. Studies have shown that growing corn can also help reduce the amount of CO2, as corn uses CO2 to grow.

As a person can tell, ethanol is not contributing to climate change at all. Just by looking at these facts, ethanol is actually helping to slow climate change. So far the three myths we have busted prove that ethanol is not a harmful alternative fuel. These myths also give us more reasons on why we should use more ethanol. So next time you pull into the fuel station, make sure to fill up with ethanol and help reduce our carbon footprint.

Check back on Wednesday, July 6 to bust Myth #4! Until then, visit the Nebraska Corn Board website to learn more about Nebraska's Corn Farmers and ethanol.

Corn growers appreciate support of resolution to limit EPA actions

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association and Nebraska Corn Board said today that they appreciated the support of Nebraska Senators Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns for S.J. Resolution 26 – the Murkowski Disapproval Resolution – that would have signaled to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to hold off on regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.

Both Nebraska Senators were co-sponsors of the disapproval resolution introduced by Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, and both voted for the measure, which failed by a 47-53 vote yesterday.

“The Clean Air Act was created to regulate pollutants. Greenhouse gases should not be regulated in the same way as lead emissions, smog or soot,” Brandon Hunnicutt, a farmer from Giltner and president of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, said in news release. “We appreciate Senator Nelson and Senator Johanns support of the resolution that would have let EPA know to hold off on its actions. We will continue to examine avenues to change the direction EPA is moving and encourage EPA to hold off on putting any additional regulatory burden and costs on the backs of Nebraskans.”

Alan Tiemann, a farmer from Seward and chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board, said the EPA overstepped its bounds with overly zealous regulatory actions.

“The response to that decision will be a series of Clean Air Act regulations that will have significant consequences for agriculture and small businesses,” Tiemann said. “EPA’s regulations will raise input costs for farmers, make our products less competitive in international markets and impact Nebraskans in countless ways. We thank Senators Johanns and Nelson for supporting the resolution.”

NeCGA, 100+ other groups, oppose EPA's plan to regulate greenhouse gases

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association was one of more than 100 groups that sent a letter this week to Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) supporting her resolution to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

You can view the full letter over at the National Corn Growers Association website here.

“Both the current and past administrations have acknowledged that the Clean Air Act is not the appropriate vehicle for establishing greenhouse gas policy,” the letter states. “Such regulatory actions will carry severe consequences for the U.S. economy, including America’s farmers and ranchers, through increased input costs and international market disparities.”

Murkowski is introducing her resolution after EPA’s December finding stated that escalated levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are endangering human health and the environment through climate change. (See this post for more on that ruling.)

Other Nebraska groups that signed the letter include:

• Nebraska Cattlemen
• Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association
• Nebraska Soybean Association
• Nebraska Wheat Board
• Nebraska Wheat Growers Association

For a good article on the subject - and to see which other Senators support the move, check out DTN's Chris Clayton's report here.

EPA makes it official, declares greenhouse gasses a threat to health, environment

The Environmental Protection Agency held a news conference yesterday to declare greenhouse gasses a threat to the public health and environment.

Here's the headline from a news release:

Greenhouse Gases Threaten Public Health and the Environment / Science overwhelmingly shows greenhouse gas concentrations at unprecedented levels due to human activity

While we've known for sometime that this was in the works -- following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that allows EPA to go after greenhouse gasses under the Clean Air Act -- the announcement makes it official.

And the timing gives the Administration something to hold up at climate talks in Denmark this week. (Doesn't that seem to make it a bit politically motivated instead being based on "science"?)

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said EPA would prefer climate legislation from Congress as a way to move forward with ways reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. She also said the focus would not impact small businesses and only target those who emit 25,000 or more tons of greenhouse gases each year.

While that is a nice thought, a concern here is the courts. A single lawsuit against EPA and a livestock operation, fertilizer company or other ag venture charging that they are emitters and should fall under the regulation and the whole greenhouse gas regulatory structure would be left in a judge's hands. And then it would take legislation just to get back to the intent of EPA's actions.

(Alternatively, future EPA administrators may lower the threshold.)

For reaction from the National Corn Growers Association, click here; American Farm Bureau Federation comments are here.