A recent article published online in Bloomberg Politics by Jennifer A Dlouhy, “As Corn Devours U.S. Prairies, Greens Reconsider Biofuel Mandate,” calls into question the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). She writes, “More than a decade after conservationists helped persuade Congress to require adding corn-based ethanol and other biofuels to gasoline, some groups regret the resulting agricultural runoff in waterways and conversion of prairies to cropland — improving the odds that lawmakers might seek changes to the program next year.”
The article has prompted numerous replies but none more funny than the editorial from Auto Channel’s Marc Rauch who notes that her article raises some noteworthy questions. In his response, Rauch takes a run at answering these said noteworthy questions. The result is a must read and reprinted here with permission from Rauch, truly one of the leading performance ethanol experts in the country.
Marc Rauch – Photo Credit: Brian Baer
I just finished reading an anti-ethanol Bloomberg editorial written by Jennifer A. Dlouhy. Her story, “Biofuelblunder? Greens who once championed a renewable fuel mandate say climate benefits are coming too slowly,” raises some seemingly noteworthy questions.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that she may be on to something.
Not since 2001 has any professional baseball player hit more than 60 home runs in one year. What’s the connection you ask? It’s obvious, 2001 is the first year of increased global biofuel production!
To make matters worse, 2001 was the first year of a decline in total home runs hit by all MLB players. In 1999 and 2000, total homes runs per year topped 5,500. We have never again had numbers like that, and in some years total home runs didn’t even exceed 5,000!
It’s all because of biofuels, ethanol, and that dreaded “renewable fuel standard.” I’m shuddering in fear and anger.
Look, if the American renewable fuel mandate can’t fix man-made global warming, and it impacts on home run totals, then it can’t be good for our country. It’s bad enough when MPG production is called into question by blending ethanol with gasoline, but messing with one of the most cherish aspects of our great national pastime is just too damn much! That’s right, I used the word “damn,” because no other word so succinctly describes the outrage we must all share.
Wait, don’t go away yet, I have more startling news: Some of the top deceptively named organizations have come out to challenge the value of the renewable fuel mandate. Yes, that’s right, we have PECC (Persons for the Ethical Consumption of Corn) voicing their concerns. There’s AHASC, raising heck over this issue (AHASC, in case you don’t know, is Americans Hanging Around Street Corners – it’s very big in Brooklyn where I grew up). Naturally, LAPWEC (Let’s All Pretend We’re Environmentalists and Conservationists) is involved. But the most vocal of all is the groups is OPUS TDT (Oil Pays Us To Do This).
REALITY CHECK TIME
Read More
The USDA is helping biorefineries go even greener. The USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service, a division within the USDA, has allocated funds through the Repowering Assistance Program, to assist renewable fuel facilities convert away from fossil-fuel based heat and/or power to renewable biomass power. Applications are being accepted from July 25, 2016 until October 24, 2016 and only facilities in operation prior to June 18, 2008 are eligible.
