?? relating to the potential environmental effects of producing
some of these fuel sources should the US go into it in a big way.
I think most of your questions can be answered without citing specific
studies ... they are out there, I just don`t have time at the moment to
go fetch them ... but here`s my opinions ... quick and dirty
? would this stimulate a large increase in corn production,
- most probably yes, although how large would be determined by what
impact there is on corn prices, and what is happening on the input
side. For example, increased corn prices would not have much impact if
accompanied by tighter environmental reg`s that made it more difficult
to produce corn using traditional methods (i.e. high N + pesticides
etc). - also, in the medium term there could be significant export
demand that could make it difficult for ethanol to compete for the
feedstock
? and what environmental effects would we expect from more acres of
corn (assuming that this corn would be grown "conventionally"?
You can expect more of the conventional problems, particularly if
set-aside land is brought back into production.
? Has anyone done a study specifically on this?
I don't think so, but I don`t see that this specific relationship would
need to be explored since the general impacts of increased corn
production have been examined. If you are interested in the end-use
impacts of taking corn and turning into ethanol and burning it, there
is work out there, but it is incomplete.
? What are the tradeoffs between cleaner burning fuel and increased
corn production (both on the energy side and on the environmental
side)?
One of the important ones is political. For at least the next decade,
having the corn producers on-side the issue of alternative fuels is
important since there are few other allies with as much political
influence promoting alternatives. On the other side there are
formidable lobbies who are doing everything they can to slow the
process down. Working with the corn producers is key.
If traditional methods of corn production were to be continued as the
basis for feeding the ethanol industry, then I could not support the
development of the industry. On the other hand, many farmers are
adopting improved corn production methods, and more importantly, other
feedstocks (e.g. herbaceous biomass) are being developed that have much
superior environmental characteristics. In the longer run, I think corn
producers can be convinced to grow these alternative crops, but it will
take time since "corn is easy" .... traditions die hard. I know this as
one who inherited a corn operation and had to wrestle with the problem.