Journal of Engineering
and Public Policy
(Vol.
9, August 2002)
Corn Ethanol as an Alternative Fuel:
Technical, Economic and Policy Issues
By
Sarah R. Walter
Executive Summary
As the world’s
supply of petroleum decreases, the search for renewable alternative
fuels has become very active. Corn ethanol has been utilized as an
alternative automotive fuel throughout the United States and has
infiltrated the agricultural industry; creating thousands of jobs and
stimulating the economy. As new technology emerges and the need for
independence from foreign sources of petroleum becomes more evident an
analysis must be made to determine whether existing alternatives to
petroleum are temporary solutions or long term solutions. There are many
technical, economic and policy issues that line the current debate
behind the longevity of the use of corn ethanol as an alternative fuel.
Ethanol is one of many alternatives to petroleum that must be utilized
in the United States' transition to a renewable energy-based economy,
yet corn ethanol alone is not a viable replacement for the future of our
current petroleum driven industry. The United States must diversify the
sources in which it fuels its growing economy to insure energy security.
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Note: The
paper "Corn
Ethanol as an Alternative Transportation Fuel: Technical,
Economic and Policy Issues" by Sarah R. Walter (Iowa State University)
was prepared for the Society of Automotive
Engineers, which holds the copyright and reserves all rights. The
paper will be presented at SAE's
2006 Annual Congress
(April 2006), and will be available for sale from the Society of Automotive Engineers as part of the
conference proceedings. |
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