Comments by "David H" (@DavidHalko) on "America Was Wrong About Ethanol - Study Shows" video.
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“randomly falling corn” was the worst part of the video, where Jason could have applied his time speaking about pragmatic concerns like farm equipment reuse, land reuse for different types of corn, expertise gained to make the land appropriate to switch in a single season between human food, animal food, machine fuel… as well as the added benefits of long term storage for each in food jars, food cans, animal barns, as well as storage tanks.
He looked like he was mocking something he did not understand, while concentrating on a few finer points solely related to engines.
During a time of crisis, like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, planting some more fuel grade corn may be the ticket to helping in the current energy crunch we are in, since solar & wind do not power our existing portable infrastructure today.
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“Why is corn used when there are better options?”
Corn is also used for cereals like corn flakes, feed for animals like cattle, basic long term stored foods like canned corn, flour to make breads for people who are gluten intolerant, etc.
When farm equipment & land can be used to create food or energy, it becomes a buffer where a single growing season can be applied to positively energy energy production, for example if a war breaks out (ie Russia invading Ukraine, Iraq invading Kuwait, oil embargo of 1970’s, etc.)
Extremely high density liquid energy carriers like alcohol based fuel can be domestically harvested to keep economies of scale operating during difficult times. This is partially a national security issue.
Renewable Wind & Solar energy, which is not easily stored & transported, should be applied to make alcohol based fuels, to create a naturally Recyclable energy solution. Batteries are created from strip mining of Africa, will be buried in waste landfills of the US, heavy metals will leech & poison the water systems, while alcohol is created by domestic land use, and those strip mines will deplete elements quickly, while CO2 in the atmosphere will be recycled to make new soil base from plant roots.
Would switch grass be better?
Sure, but then the question is, can existing farm equipment be used? Can switch grass harvesting equipment be “dual use” for which food stocks? How long will that farm equipment be usable if it remains idle, while switching to a good stock?
Corn is a lot like Oil, it is domestic, it is flexible.
We can not replace oil with ethanol, not enough land to replace all oil consumed, but it is a carrier to make portable high density energy, that does not result in raping the third world, destroying their environment, making us less dependent upon the racist destruction of Africa, destroy our environment by poisoning our land and water in later years, etc.
There is additional value of ethanol in making more portable energy, with fewer very long term consequences & 100% natural recycling which is not dependent upon additional energy & human consumption to perform the recycling.
Ethanol is not a panacea, but it is not as ridiculous as the author of this video suggests through his unprofessional mocking and not reviewing the other clear benefits.
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