Doing a bit of research on Ethanol and gasoline, since the information coming out on TV and radio seems so scattershot and incomplete (big surprise, there).  There are a number of questions I’m looking into, trying to formulate an actual line of attack for the article:

1)  What is the Net Energy Balance of Ethanol?  Meaning, how much energy does it produce compared to the amount of energy it costs to produce and distribute it.
2) Currently, 1 billion gallons of Ethanol are produced anually, how much land does that require?  How much is going to be required for a substantial dent in the oil consumption of the US?
3)  Farming creates it’s own waste, and there is always the threat of overproduction and depletion of soil.  To what extent is this a concern with corn production, and is there enough land to accomodate our goals while preserving our farmlands?

Estimating the Net Energy Balance of Corn Ethanol

Studies conducted since the late 1970’s have estimated the net energy value of corn ethanol. However, variations in data and assumptions used among the studies have resulted in a wide range of estimates. This study identifies the factors causing this wide variation and develops a more consistent estimate. We conclude that the net energy value of corn ethanol has become positive in recent years due to technological advances in ethanol conversion and increased efficiency in farm production. We show that corn ethanol is energy efficient as indicated by an energy ratio of 1.24.