So far, corn is the only economic input for ethanol production. Corn market prices escalated during the 2006 harvest indicating to growers more acres needed to be planted this year to meet the demand. Critics of ethanol say there will not be enough corn to provide for the rapid ethanol production occurring in the United States. Cooper disproves their assumption. “Critics think corn yields are static, but yields have doubled in the last 30 years,” he explains. Data proves growers have indeed continued to become more efficient. Also, experts expect other inputs to become economical in the future.
Environmental and economic assets
Other critics worry farmers are taking too much productivity from the land without caring for the environment. But in May 2006, the United States Secretary of Agriculture announced total soil erosion on U.S. cropland decreased 43 percent between 1982 and 2003. Growers have focused on decreasing soil erosion while producing a crop that is helping decrease air pollutants: According to the Ethanol Promotion and Informational Council (EPIC) Web site, in 2005 alone the use of 4 billion gallons of ethanol was equal to the effect of removing 1 million cars from the roads. While renewable fuels were a good idea in the 1990’s, they were not considered economically feasible. Today, many experts say since the spike in crude oil prices, ethanol production and use can be viable. An ethanol additive mandate currently is integrated into the fuel supply for only seven states. But fuel enriched with ethanol is available in most states. EPIC encourages consumers to use this enriched fuel for three reasons: because of the positive benefits for the environment, economy and vehicle performance.
Booming too much to be good?
One group of consumers seeing an immediate boost is the rural economy, with the increase in corn prices and ethanol plants being constructed. According to the EPIC Web site, in 2005 almost 160,000 jobs were created because of ethanol in all sectors of the economy. More than 20,000 of the jobs were in the manufacturing sector.
Such is the boom, some economists even fear the ethanol economy is growing too fast and will not have adequate manpower to meet demand. “We’re putting up a lot of plants, but the logistics issues suggest maybe they are going up too quickly. There is a shortage of skilled labor. Plus the cost of building additional ethanol plants goes up with the shortage of skilled labor.”
In the spotlight of public attention
With the increased political focus by the United States to become more self-sustaining in the fuel industry, it is important to realize the maximum impact ethanol can have on Americans’ fuel consumption in the future. Cooper says there is a misunderstanding with the public that ethanol is trying to replace gasoline. “People in this industry do not believe that to be true. We know biofuels alone aren’t going to solve our problems.” With the role ethanol can play, the agriculture industry is getting a new look from the general public, too. Corn growers’ participation in the production of ethanol is being viewed as one answer for less dependence on foreign oil and a healthier environment. Yet, the ethanol industry is not perfect. Research for new inputs and new methods will continue.
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