Does corn-based ethanol production result in increased greenhouse gases from farm equipment?
The farm equipment would be running regardless. Ethanol production hasn’t resulted in a significant increase in overall agricultural production, but generally a shifting of emphasis among which crops are grown. It should also be noted, in addition, that the same statement holds true regarding the overall cost of corn-based ethanol. Factoring in the costs of farm equipment and their operation seems to over-estimate the cost of corn-based ethanol, since this equipment would be operating, regardless. Will reliance on bio-diesel and ethanol increase global warming? The assertion is tendentious, at best. The claim seems to be made in an attempt to tarnish Obama’s energy plan en toto. The truth of the matter is that such a claim about bio-diesel is far less tenable than even the claim about ethanol, which is itself problematic. Consider, first, that diesel fuel contains more energy per liter than gasoline does. Secondly, diesel engines run at a cooler temperature, and thus more efficiently (
