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EDITORIAL ON CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
by Lyle G. Reeser, Consulting Agricultural Engineer

Congressional debates over domestic issues concerning taxes, education, medicare, redistricting, same sex marriage and other local political issues have diluted our attention from understanding what got us into this current international crisis and delayed establishment of a bipartisan program to solve this serious energy problem and our fragile foreign relations.

Renewable energy is not a new idea. Technology to produce clean energy from renewable sources had been with us for many years before Congress started debating the establishment of a National Energy Policy. In the 1890's Rudolf Diesel invented the engine that bears his name and was designed to run on peanut oil. In the 1920's Henry Ford built the "Model T" on an assembly line to serve farmers and rural areas with few improved roads. The Model T could operate on "Corn Squeezens" (ethanol) distilled from corn grown on the farm. When EPA mandated elimination of lead from gasoline in 1983, it became necessary to use aromatics containing benzine, xylene, toluene which were toxic or carcinogenic, or to blend oxygenates such as MTBE or ETHANOL for high compression internal combustion engines. About 1/2 of Midwest grain farmers¹ net income is from government subsidies to compensate them for their cost of production. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the proposed energy bill will cost about $32 billion over the next decade, including 23.5 billion in tax breaks. Around 2/3 of the breaks are aimed toward coal, oil, and natural gas producers and 1/3 toward conservation and energy efficiency. So, Taxpayers Beware!

During these past thirty years we have known that ample clean energy from renewable sources such as Solar, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric and Geothermal will eventually replace the diminishing supply of fossil fuel which pollutes our air, poisons our water, destroys our health and economy. Yet, Congress has debated, but failed to adapt a viable National Energy Policy!

The Middle East Oil Crisis and Clean Air Act of 1973 served as an alert of pending problems and need for development of alternative sources to replace fossil fuels. About 60% of fuel used in the U.S. continues to be imported from outside the U.S. and unstable regions of the world. Reliance on imported fossil fuels from these regions makes our economy vulnerable to political unrest, terrorism and an excuse to wage war.

Two prominent anti-ethanol myths prevail:

1. "Using grain for fuel detracts from available food for millions of starving and malnourished populations." When ethanol is produced from grain using the wet milling process, all the protein and nutrient minerals are still available for human consumption and animal feed. Moreover, the protein quality is enhanced by the fermentation process. The carbon dioxide produced can be used in soft drinks and fire extinguishers or in the hydroponic culture of vegetables.
2. "It requires more energy to produce ethanol than is available in the final product." Many detailed analyses have proven that when all energy inputs and all byproducts are included in the energy balance study, the net positive yield exceeds 33%.

Production of ethanol to blend with gasoline and of vegetable oil to blend with diesel fuel has grown at a phenomenal rate during the past 5 years. Recent development of solar and wind sources of energy has progressed extremely well in Texas, but conversion methods of producing ethanol from huge biomass sources in Texas has not been accepted as it has in the Mid Western U.S. and in other countries. During the late 1970's and early 1980's Brazil was able to reduce dependence on imported energy from approximately 60% to about 45% of consumption by expanding their ethanol production. While Brazil decreased dependence on imported oil and gas, the U.S. has increased imports of energy from less than 50% to about 60% of consumption in 2002. In 1992 Texas became a net importer of energy instead of an
exporter. EPA estimates 127 million Americans live in areas of the country that violate minimum safeguards for air pollution. Early this year 19 states had passed legislation to outlaw the use of MTBE. Texas is in an enviable position to supply 100% of its energy needs without importation of any fossil fuels. Will Texas be the last major state to outlaw the use of MTBE?

Diesel engines are well known for their efficiency and long life but air pollution from diesel exhaust resulted in restrictions being applied to their use in some European cities over 20 years ago. Biodiesel is produced by blending regular diesel fuels with additives containing soybean oil, any refined vegetable oil or ethanol. This results in a nontoxic fuel with reduced emissions, is biodegradable and essentially free of detrimental sulfur. Many major commercial fleets in the U.S. , military, NASA, state departments of transportation and school districts are switching to biodiesel and the number of fuel distributors is growing rapidly nationwide.

There are powerful efforts in Washington D.C. to pass a national energy policy to include boosting oil drilling, coal production and building new nuclear power plants. This is a disastrous approach detrimental to our environment. and our economy. So what will it take to convince Congress to adopt a national energy policy incorporating increased development of abundant solar, wind and biomass energy sources? First, through education, individuals must learn the facts concerning availability, economic, health and social benefits of developing our own renewable sources of energy. Second, contact state and federal legislators urging support of legislation providing incentives for conservation and development of clean abundant energy sources. This will make farming in the U.S. more profitable with fewer subsidies, improve our health, our economy, reduce world tension and save lives! The lives sacrificed and money wasted during the past 30 years would have been better invested in making our nation a better,
healthier, debt free nation while assisting developing countries to become more self reliant for their food and energy.