Alternative sources may be possible

Letter to the Editor
Repost from The Missoulian

A column on the Missoulian Opinion page of April 17 states, “The corn ethanol craze, encouraged by state and federal policies needs to be reined in ... Otherwise it will continue to drive up food prices.”

While the use of ethanol as a component of motor fuels helps achieve renewable energy objectives, perhaps an alternate source of ethanol should be considered. One authority claims that one British Thermal Unit of fossil fuel produces a marginal 1.3 BTU of corn-derived ethanol. On the other hand, one BTU of fossil fuel will produce 17 BTUs of cellulosic ethanol derived from wood fiber.

If this disparity in energy balance is real, it appears to represent a good opportunity for our timber industry to provide cellulosic feed stocks for ethanol production. This could help mitigate the adverse effects of corn-derived ethanol on the country and world food supply at the same time.

Ted R. Burton, Missoula