Growth Energy, the leading voice for U.S. ethanol supporters and producers, released the following statement in response to a guest blog written by Robert F. Brands on today’s Huffington Post website:
“Robert F. Brands is right to question Big Oil’s motives, but he doesn’t consider the facts when he slams American ethanol in The Ethanol Myth and Innovation Gone Amok (March 8, 2011),” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “Instead, Mr. Brands relies on old myths and outdated information – all of which have been disproven, discredited and dismissed by bodies ranging from the federal government to the World Bank to the market itself. We offer this opportunity to Mr. Brands to take a second look at the facts.”
“Ethanol is more energy efficient to produce than conventional gasoline – for every one Btu put into creating ethanol, there is a 2.3 Btu return, according to research by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And the latest World Bank working paper demonstrates that oil prices, weather and commodity speculation all have a much greater impact on the cost of food than ethanol. One piece of information missing from Brands post is that ethanol produces both fuel and food, in the form of high protein animal feed known as Dried Distillers Grains. These DDGs displace greater volume of field corn, are less expensive to the producer and are much more nutritious,” said Buis.
Buis continued, “Anyone who blames ethanol for pain at the pump simply hasn’t looked at the market, where ethanol is historically cheaper than gasoline. In fact, ethanol is the cheapest motor fuel on the planet. Meanwhile, oil prices are climbing drastically, threatening the still fragile American economy, because our nation relies so heavily on gasoline distilled from foreign oil. American-produced, renewable ethanol improves our national security and our nation’s economy.
“The only progress made in the last 40 years in reducing our national dependence on foreign oil is ethanol. We use 10 percent today, and can grow that to 15 percent immediately. Ethanol is the only viable alternative to foreign oil we have today ,” Buis added.
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About Growth Energy
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.