The Ethanology of Florida

I suppose Governor Crist is generously giving himself a pat on the back for his recent trip to Brazil, promoting ethanol as an alternative to our ever-increasing dependency on Middle East oil. No doubt, the American way of life is in jeopardy because of the growing turmoil in oil producing countries. The situation will eventually get worse as rogue governments may hold oil supplies for ransom to the highest bidder. This idea has been tossed around recently but it deserves consideration.

Economic growth in both China and India is challenging other country’s effort to control green house gases. China will soon surpass the United States in carbon dioxide emissions and India is expected to become the third largest polluter in the next few years. This not only points to increased global warming, but also suggests we will be in competition with these and other countries for future energy needs.

As oil prices inch toward $100 per barrel, gasoline won’t be the only commodity to become more costly. Everything from clothes to food will mean higher energy costs; petroleum is used in the process of most forms of manufacturing. But of more immediate concern to Florida residents will be higher electric bills.

On another negative side, production of ethanol diverts tons of corn from the age-old use for a multiple of food products. This not only affects grain consumption by us bipeds, but also makes the cost of raising farm animals an expensive business endeavor. More consumer dollars are eaten up as the domino effect of the food chain creates an economic hardship to keep the family well fed. That bowl of corn flakes and the milk or those two eggs and two pieces of toast with bacon have become an investment rather than food staples.

Governor Crist currently has no policy in place to implement an ethanol-gasoline fuel blend. It will be no short journey to accomplish whatever eventual energy goal he may formulate. I liken this lack of direction to a cart full of produce with no horse to get the wheels a-turning. It appears he has become another cheerleader to “Go! Go! Go for the green!”, a bandwagon for political posturing.

Al Gore has made global warming a hot topic, successfully adding to the sound of alarm to limit the use of fossil fuels to meet worldwide energy needs. The cause for ethanol brings out the best of intentions but it is a limited, short-sided remedy for the greater need to address the obstacles of continued oil dependency, economics inclusive.

I chide Governor Crist because he is the leader of our State of Florida, our Uncle Charlie in contrast to Uncle Sam. From top to bottom, all those government folks continue to make poor or questionable decisions. They don’t really know how to make their own decisions, relying on the ideas of a bunch of fine-suited lawyers from one corporate lobby or another.

Crist has expressed a negative opinion toward additional nuclear power sites within the state. His stance may very well prove to be a clouded viewpoint when considering the need to develop multiple energy sources to meet long term goals; ethanol should be considered a mere beginning toward the broader picture.

Coal is an ecological four-letter word and a blasphemy for containing emissions that add to global warming. Currently, the U.S. Dept. of Energy has a “conceptual” coal-to-liquids facility to be built in Illinois at a cost of nearly $5-billion that will produce 50,000 barrels of oil per day, with a payback period of 5 years when at full capacity. This figure is just a drop in the oilcan, but the potential use of this most abundant energy source in the United States will take years for technology to perfect a process that reduces carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. When in operation, byproducts from coal extraction, such as hydrogen, will also prove helpful for other energy needs.

Early in his presidency, George W. Bush earmarked $10-billion over a 10-year period for research and development to make coal a cleaner source of fuel; half of this amount is designated for that sole processing plant in Illinois. Time is not on our side to reduce our dependencies on oil imports.

Yes, Gov. Crist can be commended for his efforts toward developing a biofuels policy, but, by the end of former Gov. Jeb Bush’s administration, Florida was already positioning Brazil as a trade partner for ethanol production. Keep in mind that Brazil is preparing to tap oil reserves in the Amazon River basin and along the coast near Rio de Janeiro. Brazil will indeed be a long-term partner in trade. Jeb set the pace, now every subsequent governor can follow, or wallow, in his footsteps.

I am less critical of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush than I was during his terms in office. I am less ecstatic with the effectiveness of Governor Charlie Crist I was this past January.

So, when Gov. Crist steps outside the realms of his elected responsibilities, it would be in the best interests of Florida residents that he display Political Correctness by addressing the troublesome issues that have yet to be resolved: homeowner property insurance rates, a questionably equitable property tax initiative and the on-going problems in the state’s educational system.

Charlie, please concentrate on fulfilling you campaign promises before stepping foot beyond the borders of your elected responsibilities. If, as some have suggested, you are tiptoeing for a shining moment in the spotlight of national politics, these hazy days of green-state pollution are blurring you vision.

Some 10,000 square miles of the Amazon were lost to deforestation for cultivation of soybeans. This represents a 40% increase from the previous year. Soybeans are a cheap source of food for humans and animals. It is also becoming a primary source for the production of ethanol.

When politicians proudly hale their efforts to promote biofuels, you might imagine they would be aware of all aspects that must be taken into consideration before advocating an agreement of partnership.

Take into consideration that each person contributes about 10 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in a year’s time. One ton of that same greenhouse gas is released into the atmosphere whenever a 40-foot tree is lost to human cultivation. This a double whammy to the health of planet Earth.

By tearing down the Amazon rain forest, we are losing a frightening amount of oxygen because the attraction of seeing the green of the American dollar is given priority over the lush vegetation we claim to cherish. It’s already a little late in the ecology game, yet there are few cheerleaders or coaches to bring us victory and salvation for mankind’s misuse of the planet’s natural resources.

Politicians should take a refresher course in basic math. Deforestation doesn’t balance well with the production of ethanol.