Comments on: Ethanol’s Growing List of Enemies http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/22/ethanols-growing-list-of-enemies/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:01:47 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Francesco DeParis http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/22/ethanols-growing-list-of-enemies/comment-page-1/#comment-30181 Francesco DeParis Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:57:23 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/22/ethanols-growing-list-of-enemies/#comment-30181 I agree that we should not be depending on corn as the only feedstock for the US ethanol industry. I have commented on this article specifically, <a href="http://energyspin.com/?p=13" rel="nofollow">Ethanol Reaps a Backlash: The Power of Small Towns…</a> . I comment regularly on the US ethanol industry from a business perspective on my blog, <a href="http://www.energyspin.com/" rel="nofollow">Energy Spin: Alternative Energy Blog For Investors Served Daily</a> I agree that we should not be depending on corn as the only feedstock for the US ethanol industry. I have commented on this article specifically, Ethanol Reaps a Backlash: The Power of Small Towns… . I comment regularly on the US ethanol industry from a business perspective on my blog, Energy Spin: Alternative Energy Blog For Investors Served Daily

]]> By: Ian http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/22/ethanols-growing-list-of-enemies/comment-page-1/#comment-30177 Ian Fri, 23 Mar 2007 03:59:07 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/22/ethanols-growing-list-of-enemies/#comment-30177 As The Economist pointed out (link below), the least dangerous way to deal with this is not by subsidies, but rather by cap-and-trade emmissions reduction schemes, or alternatively a carbon tax. This allows industry to innovate and find the most effective and economic way to solve the issue of greenhouse gas pollution. Despite the effectiveness of this approach, however, it is not politic; it meets current consumers of fossil fuels head-on, which is a fight the environment can never win; the costs are concentrated in a few firms that can lobby hard, while the benefits are distributed throughout the economy. Instead we end up with the usual pork-pandering to specific alternative big-business industries, including auto manufacturers, solar panel producers, and corn growers. This approach, despite its wasteful result, meets with low resistance because the costs are distributed throughout the economy while the benefits are concentrated in a few parties. Economist article here: http://economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=E1_RRVPSNV As The Economist pointed out (link below), the least dangerous way to deal with this is not by subsidies, but rather by cap-and-trade emmissions reduction schemes, or alternatively a carbon tax. This allows industry to innovate and find the most effective and economic way to solve the issue of greenhouse gas pollution.

Despite the effectiveness of this approach, however, it is not politic; it meets current consumers of fossil fuels head-on, which is a fight the environment can never win; the costs are concentrated in a few firms that can lobby hard, while the benefits are distributed throughout the economy. Instead we end up with the usual pork-pandering to specific alternative big-business industries, including auto manufacturers, solar panel producers, and corn growers. This approach, despite its wasteful result, meets with low resistance because the costs are distributed throughout the economy while the benefits are concentrated in a few parties.

Economist article here: http://economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=E1_RRVPSNV

]]> By: TG http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/22/ethanols-growing-list-of-enemies/comment-page-1/#comment-30164 TG Thu, 22 Mar 2007 16:47:51 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/03/22/ethanols-growing-list-of-enemies/#comment-30164 Absolutely true. But there's nothing wrong with Ethanol as a fuel, just our countries misguided policies being used to promote it. Ethanol from non-corn sources holds great promise, both environmentally and economically. Absolutely true. But there's nothing wrong with Ethanol as a fuel, just our countries misguided policies being used to promote it. Ethanol from non-corn sources holds great promise, both environmentally and economically.

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