Matt Goes Green

In an NPR News interview on July 24th, Margaret Kriz, National Journal energy and environment correspondent, discussed ethanol, Texas, the EPA and the ensuing debate regarding Ethanol regulations. Texas has reportedly applied for a waiver of the current ethanol standards. The Energy Policy Act provides an option for a waiver only if the environment or economy would be severely harmed because of the Renewable Fuel Standards.

Texas governor, Rick Perry, has applied for the waiver citing severe stress on prices, livestock and agriculture industry in the state. This has opened discussion and debate regarding the use of ethanol in our fuel. The livestock industry, food industry, and Grocery Manufacturers Association are opposed to the mandated increase in the use of ethanol. Dallas Morning News reports that Governor Perry has gained support from some environmental groups as well.

The Environmental Protection Agency will ultimately decide if Texas will be granted the requested waiver. It is expected that their decision will be made in early August. The spirited debates that have begun as a result of Governor Perry’s request will surely cause our political leaders to revisit the regulations currently in place.

What are we learning from this? Fuel and food are closely related. We need fuel to operate the machines that harvest, process, package and distribute our food. When increasing our use of corn derived fuel such as ethanol we must also take all these other areas into consideration. In addition to the fact that corn is a vegetable we eat, it is also a primary livestock feed source.

Once again, there is a need for a balanced approach in the pursuit of energy alternatives in America. The debate surrounding the use of ethanol is far reaching and diverse, from cleaner burning fuel to world hunger. Ethanol production and consumption are hot topics not soon to be extinguished.

Related Posts:

• Biofuels Part 1: Corn Ethanol Isn’t the Solution
• Study: Your Car Can Run on 20% Ethanol
• Obama and Ethanol: Is It Just About Winning Votes?
• Would You Like to Read about Meeting Ethanol Mandates in California?

Photo Credit: Fields and Corn Danielle Leininger via Flickr Creative Commons Liscence; Texas Longhorn Steer Charles & Clint’s Photostream via Flickr Creative Commons Liscence