The Truth About Ethanol – Addressing the Myths of the Pimentel/Patzek
Study
Recent media reports
about a dubious study on the net energy balance of ethanol have garnered
considerable national attention. The study, conducted by David Pimentel
of Cornell University and Tad Patzek of the University of California-Berkeley,
alleges ethanol production requires more fossil energy than the resulting
ethanol fuel contains. Despite a wealth of research to the contrary,
Pimentel has repeatedly made this same assertion in the past.
To set the record
straight, the National Corn Growers Association has compiled the following
information that questions Pimentel’s and Patzek’s credibility
as well as the oil industry’s influence on these studies. We have
also provided government and university studies that demonstrate ethanol’s
positive energy balance.
KEY ISSUES
