NCGA
Extends Invitation to Pimentel, Patzek to Discuss Ethanol Studies
(7-25-05)
The National
Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has invited Cornell University’s
Dr. David Pimentel and the University of California, Berkeley’s
Dr. Tad Patzek to an open forum in Washington, D.C., to discuss
ethanol’s energy balance and environmental impact.
Pimentel and
Patzek recently released a study that suggests ethanol generates
29 percent less energy than it takes to produce it. Pimentel has
authored two other studies that have had similar findings and is
the only researcher whose results have suggested ethanol has a negative
net energy balance.
Several independent
researchers have also concluded the opposite of Pimentel’s
results. The Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratory and
the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are among the groups that have
indicated ethanol has a positive net energy balance up to 67 percent.
Pimentel has
rejected offers from NCGA to publicly discuss ethanol in the past.
“We are
once again offering the opportunity to debate the issue that has
been raise by the Pimentel studies,” said Leon Corzine, NCGA
president. “We believe these misconceptions need to be put
to rest in a public forum, and we have offered public debate with
scientists with unbiased views. To date, our offers have not been
accepted, but we hope Drs. Pimentel and Patzek will attend this
time.”
Dr. Bruce Dale
of Michigan State University and John Sheehan, senior chemical engineer
with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, have also been invited.
Dale and Sheehan insist ethanol has a positive net energy balance
and dispute Pimentel’s findings.