Ecospirituality: Corn-based ethanol is not 'green'

by Carolyn Klein, FSPA Affiliate

Global warming. Green house gases. Carbon emissions. Renewable energy sources. These are all hot topics in our global world today. Leading scientists in their research, and other environmentally concerned individuals such as Al Gore and his movie, An Inconvenient Truth, have increased awareness to the seriousness of these issues. We are once again seeing a focus being placed on our world-wide energy overuse and subsequent crisis. We have all witnessed this in the ever-increasing cost of gasoline and in all other forms of energy. We are at a critical crossroads for making decisions in finding viable, sustainable and renewable energy sources which are environmentally safe and which are most commonly known as "green." Green, because they would also be holistically sound for all aspects of the natural environment and at the various levels of the socioeconomic world.

It's encouraging to see the global effort to address this issue as world leaders have again gathered to discuss and ultimately sign the agreements found in the Kyoto Protocol which seek to lower the carbon emissions from current energy use and production. However, it is extremely disheartening to learn the United States and China were the only two major countries which did not sign this agreement. Of course, China and the United States are the two leading countries generating the most greenhouse gas emissions.

In situations such as these, there usually seems to be a rush to find a quick-fix solution without any real regard for looking ahead to the future and the serious environmental ramifications and side effects some of these quick fixes might create. It's much like applying a band-aid to cover a dirty wound and leaving it to fester. Over time the festering wound creates a more critical infection greater than the original problem itself. From the current perspective of a growing number of international environmentalist and scientists, this seems to be the case with corn-based ethanol production as an alternative and possible renewable energy source.

At first, ethanol might seem to be a good alternative until you look closely at the evidence which has already surfaced. Diverting corn for producing energy has resulted in escalating corn prices and a shortage of corn for food products. It is also creating a negative effect across many, if not all, levels of the economic marketplace. Leading periodicals such as the Wall Street Journal (May 18, 2007), U.S. News and World Report (February 12, 2007), and Science Daily (April 1, 2005) have reports and articles illustrating this and other growing concerns which surround corn-based ethanol production. Even a shadow of doubt has been cast on the concept of changing to cellulosic material, such as switch grass, as a base for ethanol production.

©iStockphoto\Julie Kendall

In February of this year, the issue of ethanol production hit my hometown of Sparta, Wis. A news release stated ethanol investors were planning to build a corn-based ethanol refinery on 82 plus acres of recently-acquired land to be annexed within our city limits. The heart of our community surrounds this proposed refinery site: three elementary schools, the Boys and Girls Club, Senior Citizens Center, our municipal park, water, recreation system and residential areas (a retirement and nursing home facility is less than a mile away). Adjacent to the proposed refinery site is a milk processing plant which has 350 plus employees and whose product would be contaminated by the ethanol refining emissions. The La Crosse River is only a fourth of a mile from the site, and flows through Perch Lake on its way to the Mississippi River.

Sparta has a wholesome environment blessed with clean air and that small town atmosphere and quality of life many city dwellers only hope and dream about. Concerned area residents have formed a grassroots movement to prevent this ethanol refinery from being built. The findings from continued research are even more alarming considering the fact that what is happening in our small community is only a mirror image of what's happening on a larger scale in other regions, nationally and internationally.

Aside from the already implied environmental concerns, there are some specific factors which clarify the need to take a serious look at the ramifications from the overall production of corn-based ethanol. Some of the most concerning issues are water use (675 gallons per minute, 24/7, drawn from our aquifer); air quality (334 tons per year of new emissions including high levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases); and public policy (the federal government recently declared a mandate which will allow ethanol refineries more than double the current level of carbon emissions). The American Lung Association stated: "You should be concerned." Fire and chemical hazards are another concern, as fires are fought only with highly specialized chemicals. What will these chemicals do to the soil and ground water? What will be the effect of increased corn production on the soil and land itself? With other food crops being dropped to convert to corn production, how will this affect both the availability and cost of food? In fact, the headlines today are full of incidents where corn for food is expensive and in short supply. This affects everything from the farmer buying feed for various types of livestock, to corn as a basic ingredient in numerous food production lines. On the economic scene, the jump in price for a bushel of corn from about $l.50 to over $4.00 has drastically cut into the profit margin of ethanol production. There goes the economic boom everyone thinks is so deliciously there.

These are insightful facts and questions to view through the lens of the Earth Charter Principles. A change of focus onto a holistic balance of conservation and less consumption would be a more beneficial avenue to follow. The Scripture readings from Mass on July 15 were focused on being compassionate as found in The Good Samaritan story. The question asked was, "Who is my neighbor?" These Scripture readings, like the Earth Charter Principles, are calling us to a greater, and more compassionate stewardship of the Earth and all of her life forms.

As I was writing this article, I was reminded of a passage from Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring, "We stand now where two roads diverge. But unlike the roads in Robert Frost's familiar poem, they are not equally fair. The road we have long been traveling is deceptively easy, a smooth superhighway on which we progress with great speed, but at its end lies disaster. The other fork in the road-the one 'less traveled by'-offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination that assures the preservation of our earth.

"The choice, after all, is ours to make. If, having endured much, we have at last asserted our 'right to know' and if, knowing, we have concluded that we are being asked to take senseless and frightening risks, then we should no longer accept the counsel of those who tell us that we must fill our world with poisonous chemicals; we should look about and see what other course is open to us." (Silent Spring, Chapter 17, pg. 177-178.)