A collection of articles.

The debate about using ethanol as an alternative fuel, as E10 and E85 mixtures is heating up. The debate centers around whether the energy required to produce the ethanol is compensated by the energy is saves. The question is that growing the corn, extracting and fermenting the sugars to make the alcohol, all require energy. Currently, the energy comes from fossil fuels.

Further, to grow corn in such large amounts requires heavy use of fertilizers, potentially having a terrible effect on the environment.

So where do things stand? Here is a sampling of some great articles to get you thinking about the issue. I won't give an opinion, but I'll point you to articles covering all sides of the debate.

• First off, a detailed article explaining how ethanol is a bad idea. Read it and read the comments too.
• The NY Times has a nice reality check article about ethanol.
• An article from the Washington Post.
• The Washington Post's reality check article on ethanol.
• On how Brazil will soon reach energy equilibrium.
• A possible solution: using cow manure to produce ethanol.

Finally, a research paper on the full life cycles of soybean biodiesel and corn grain ethanol shows that biodiesel has much less of an impact on the environment and a much higher net energy benefit than corn ethanol. The researchers tracked all the energy used for growing corn and soybeans and converting the crops into biofuels. They also looked at how much fertilizer and pesticide corn and soybeans required and how much greenhouse gases and nitrogen, phosphorus, and pesticide pollutants each released into the environment.

One interesting outcome of the analysis is that ethanol and biodiesel are valuable as additives. That's because they oxygenate fossil fuels, which allows them to burn cleaner. Biodiesel also protects engine parts when blended with diesel.

That should be enough bed time reading for you!

Technorati Tags: alternative fuels, oil, ethanol, E85, biodiesel