New ethanol study raises questions about carbon pollution
A Reuters study by calls into question carbon reduction claims by the ethanol industry.
Transcript
According to an analysis of Environmental Protection Agency data by the Reuters News Agency, ethanol production plants put more than double the carbon, per gallon of fuel production capacity, into the atmosphere than the nation’s oil refineries. The Reuters examination focused directly on processing and utilized EPA emissions data from more than 240 of the country’s 250 ethanol plants.
In response, ethanol industry groups took issue with the study due to what they referred to as its single focus on one aspect of the biofuels production profile. The Renewable Fuels Association, the nation’s largest trade advocacy group, says ethanol offers significant and immediate carbon savings. Growth Energy, the country’s leading trade association, stated the study ignored the entire production cycle and the amount of CO2 taken out of the atmosphere from crop production, tailpipe reductions, or CO2 captured for reuse in beverage and refrigeration.
For Market to Market, I’m David Miller.