It’s time for ethanol to go

Senate bill needs your support

Every now and then, amidst the partisan screaming and yelling on Capitol Hill, a piece of legislation appears that makes perfect sense.

I know that’s sometimes hard to believe, but a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would end the corn ethanol mandate currently in place — and Republicans and Democrats have reached across the aisle to work together.

Ethanol just never really made sense to me. It’s not that I’m against alternative fuels; in fact, I think finding realistic alternatives to fossil fuels is a good thing. The key word there is “realistic,” however.

Corn ethanol isn’t good for the environment, since it requires the burning of more fossil fuels than the ethanol produced. Vehicles running ethanol also suffer from lower fuel efficiency. So, over the long haul, more fossil fuel will be burned instead of less.

Corn ethanol isn’t good for world food supplies, since corn prices have soared and other food crops have been traded out for corn to reap a financial windfall.

Corn ethanol isn’t good for engines. Sure, we use blended fuels in our cars and trucks without having trouble — but that has a lot to do with fuel turn-over. In other words, we burn through the fuel before it has time to separate and ruin our engines.

But those of us who use two-strokes and outboards risk engine and fuel-line damage with the use of the blended fuels. Introducing alcohol (which is all ethanol is) into these system is like running paint thinner through the motor, eating up fuel lines and internal gaskets. Not a good thing.

Why is it worse in these engines than our cars? It’s a simple matter of how long fuel sits. Think about it: You use your boat once or twice a month, often leaving fuel in the tanks. That provides time for the ethanol to separate from the gasoline.

Bad things happen.

The fact of the matter is that the corn ethanol mandate is really only good for corn farmers, who benefit from the surge in demand of their crops.

Now, don’t get me wrong: I support farmers. I grew up working a ranch and small family farm.

But artificially inflating corn prices with a mandate for a product that doesn’t accomplish the stated purpose (helping the environment) isn’t warranted or smart. The corn ethanol mandate is the perfect example of good intentions gone wrong.

And now even the politicians, who have to this point been swayed by the strong ethanol lobby, are recognizing the need to do away with the mandate. We should let them know we support this common-sense move.

You can bet they’re hearing from the ethanol lobby.

About Andy Crawford 863 Articles
Andy Crawford has spent nearly his entire career writing about and photographing Louisiana’s hunting and fishing community. While he has written for national publications, even spending four years as a senior writer for B.A.S.S., Crawford never strayed far from the pages of Louisiana Sportsman. Learn more about his work at www.AndyCrawford.Photography.