Here are the numbers

By Dennis Dobson

Alcohol from corn in gasoline?

The advocates for gasoline alcohol blends talk in generalities when they state that the blend is cleaner burning and better for the environment, but what are the actual facts about a gasoline alcohol blend?

What are the numbers?

Burning 100 percent alcohol made from corn:

To make one gallon of alcohol, 22 pounds of corn are needed and 0.5 gallon of fuel is required for plowing, planting, fertilizing and harvesting. This fuel will release 9.32 pounds of carbon dioxide. The fermentation of 22 pounds of corn will release 6.29 pounds of carbon dioxide. The burning of one gallon of alcohol will release 13.15 pounds of carbon dioxide.

The sum effect of burning one gallon of pure alcohol is a release of 28.76 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air. Without mechanical changes made to the auto engine, a 17 percent drop in fuel mileage is expected.

Burning 100 percent gasoline:

The burning of 6.04 pounds, or one gallon, of gasoline will release 18.65 pounds of carbon dioxide. If you drive 10,000 miles in 2008 and get 28 miles per gallon at $2.85 a gallon, you would use 357.1 gallons, spend $1,017.86 and put 6,660 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air.

Burning gasoline blended with 10 percent alcohol:

Using the same auto as above and using the 10 percent blend, your gas mileage would decrease to 27.5 miles per gallon, at $2.85 a gallon, and driving the 10,000 miles you would use 363.6 gallons and spend $1036.36, and 7,150 pounds of carbon dioxide would be released into the air.

Effects of using an alcohol-gasoline blend:

Being required to use the 10 percent alcohol blend results in an increase in the cost of our driving, increased carbon dioxide pollution, increased cost of most foods that contain corn and increased taxes to pay the alcohol substitutes. Also, the truth-in-labeling requirement is being skirted in that a label isn't required at the pumps. There are only negative effects for the average person.

The positive effects are increased profits for the farmer who is receiving $5 a bushel for corn, up from $2 a bushel two years ago.

Action you need to take:

Write your legislators and demand the repeal of the alcohol-blend requirement or require that the alcohol must be manufactured from nonfood feedstock.

Dennis Dobson of Cape Girardeau is a retired chemical engineer.