Oops, significant 'error' found in EPA's calculation of GHG emissions for Ethanol

[JohnWxy]

RFA Analysis Reveals More Problems With EPA Greenhouse Gas Accounting

Washington—Further analysis of EPA’s Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) reveals more errors in the agency’s calculation of corn ethanol and other biofuels’ carbon intensity, according to new analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

In a letter to EPA sent on August 4, the RFA points out that “according to own analysis, EPA grossly overestimated potential emissions from land use change (LUC) attributable to the lifecycle of corn ethanol and other biofuels.”

Correcting this error, as RFA points out in its letter, would greatly increase the greenhouse gas reduction benefits offered by ethanol under EPA’s calculations.

“Correcting this miscalculation reduces net LUC emissions (international and domestic) assigned to corn ethanol by 62% from 28.4 grams of CO2-equivalent/mega joule (g/MJ) to 10.8 g/MJ.

"Such a reduction in LUC emissions means overall lifecycle GHG emissions for 2022 average corn ethanol would be 38% less than baseline gasoline emissions, rather than the 21% estimate finalized by EPA.”

The RFA still maintains that the inclusion of LUC impacts, particularly international impacts over which the U.S. has no control, is flawed policy and that EPA misinterpreted the intent of Congress when it passed the RFS.
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Actually, to date all efforts to find empirical evidence supporting the Ethanol-ILUC hypothesis have come to naught. What the evidence does show is there no coorelation between ethanol production and conversion of land to cultivation around the world. Over the period when ethanol production in the U.S. increased dramatically (basically since 2000) deforestation in the Brazilian rainforests has actually been coming down very significantly. Why? .... Because Brazil has made greater efforts to crack down the harvesting of trees on public lands (mostly by illegal lumber activities). Proponents of ILUC Hypohtesis (within EPA and without) however, still hold fast to their faith in existence of ILUC of Ethanol. (I thought we were supposed to keep religion and government separate in our country??__JW)


here is a summary of the Renewable Fuels Association analysis of EPA's error: http://www.ethanolrfa.org/exchange/entry/no-surprise-here-more-problems-emerge-with-rfs-greenhouse-gas-calculat/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Emailmarketingsoftware&utm_content=729426269&utm_campaign=EPAletter&utm_term=blogpost

Here is the link the the RFA's letter to EPA pointing out their error. (h-m-m-m, wonder ihow long it will take to correct it..LOL) http://ethanolrfa.org/page/-/Letter%20to%20EPA%20Re_RFS2%20LUC%20Emissions.pdf?nocdn=1

"I am writing you today to call to your attention what we believe to be a significant error in the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) analysis performed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the expanded Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) Final Rule (75 Fed. Reg. 14,670). Specifically, according to its own analysis, EPA grossly overestimated potential emissions from land use change (LUC) attributable to the GHG lifecycle of corn ethanol and other biofuels. We briefly discussed this issue with members of your staff during a meeting May 11, 2010. This letter builds upon that discussion by further detailing the nature of EPA’s error and offering a straightforward method for correcting the miscalculation. Correcting this miscalculation reduces net LUC emissions (international and domestic) assigned to corn ethanol by 62% from 28.4 grams of CO2-equivalent/mega joule (g/MJ) to 10.8 g/MJ. Such a reduction in LUC emissions means overall lifecycle GHG emissions for 2022 average corn ethanol would be 38% less than baseline gasoline emissions, rather than the 21% estimate finalized by EPA.
EPA’s overestimation."

[flyarm]

1. And millions upon millions of gallons of oil is gone from the Gulf!!

amazing..their own whistleblowers blow this agency out of the water!

[4dsc]

2. Corn ethanol is a waste of food

food for fuel is immoral.

[Kringle]

3. so the US owes food, to the rest of the world? .nt

[JohnWxy]

4. all the protein from the corn goes back into the food chain as feed supplement for cattle.....

80% of the corn grown in the U.S. is fed to cattle and pigs.

Our exports of food have been maintained all the while ethanol production has been growing. There has not been any loss of food production to make ethanol..... no matter what the oil industry, the cattle farmers and AMerican grocery manufacturers would have you believe. NOte that farm commodity costs represent about 19% of the retail price of food at the grocery store.

Ethanol has brought down the price of gas about 15% according to Francisco Blanch, Chief Commodities Strategist for Merrill Lynch. In so doing it has saved drivers in America in 2009 prices about $74 Billion dollars annually in lower gas costs.

In bringing down the cost of gas (petroleum) ethanol also lowered the price of food as energy cost contribute about 12% - 14% to the cost of food (e.g. fuel for transortation, operating machinery on the farm, packaging (a lot of plastic used here)). :)


World Bank admits energy prices were dominant influence in food price rise 2006-2008 not biofuels