Fuel ethanol cannot alleviate US dependence on petroleum

Public release date: 1-Jul-2005

Contact: Donna Royston
droyston@aibs.org
202-628-1500 x261
American Institute of Biological Sciences

Study using 'ecological footprint' accounting indicates environmental impacts of fuel ethanol outweigh benefits

A new study of the carbon dioxide emissions, cropland area requirements, and other environmental consequences of growing corn and sugarcane to produce fuel ethanol indicates that the "direct and indirect environmental impacts of growing, harvesting, and converting biomass to ethanol far exceed any value in developing this energy resource on a large scale." The study, published in the July 2005 issue of BioScience, the journal of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), uses the "ecological footprint" concept to assess needs for ethanol production from sugarcane, now widespread in Brazil, and from corn, which is increasing in the United States.