Ethanol Reduces Dependence on Foreign Oil - FALSE

The Oil Drum has taken on the myth that "Ethanol Reduces Dependence on Foreign Oil." Here's a taste:

As a result of the recent Rolling Stone article on ethanol, I have been getting a lot of e-mails in which the same topics come up again and again. Therefore, I decided to write a comprehensive ethanol FAQ, which will eventually be placed in full here at TOD. Right now the FAQ is a work in progress on my blog [snip]

Ethanol Reduces Dependence on Foreign Oil

It is interesting that this claim is so popular, given that it is so easily shown to be false. [snip]

Here's the same claim by Paul Dickerson, Chief Operating Officer at the DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy:

Over 6 billion gallons of ethanol were produced in the United States last year, and we have an additional 5 billion gallons of refining capacity under construction.

That effort means 500 million fewer barrels of oil that we have to import from the Middle East.

That's from the U.S. Department of Energy, folks. That is the department of the U.S. government that is charged with formulating and carrying out U.S. energy policy. And they are clearly delusional about the level of petroleum displacement from ethanol. If I truly believed those numbers, I would be all over the ethanol bandwagon as well. Either they are purposely misleading people, or they actually believe what they are saying. Both options are disturbing, considering the role the DOE plays in influencing energy policies.

How on earth are people coming up with these numbers? (read it all here)

Sounds like some folks want to make up figures, fudge on facts, whatever needed to promote their beliefs, whether true or not, whether it hurts or helps the US.

Be sure to go read the entire article at The Oil Drum

Also read "Energy Policy per American Petroleum Institute"
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Comments

[Debbie]

JS, you may have tipped me off and if I failed to give you a hat tip, forgive me.

The energy situation is not one of my areas of expertise, so I don't post on it regularly. I do like The Oil Drum, because they back up with facts what they say. Also you get differing opinions there, they don't drink any kool aide.

[John Kaiser]

I am just ticked that I have to spend more for milk and meat.

[JS]

Debbie, it's good to see you covering energy issues here lately. I especially liked you posting the link to The Oil Drum's article on Mexico's oil production collapse (I think I tipped you off to this problem several months ago).