The truth about ethanol’s carbon footprint and environmental toll
Corn ethanol is marketed as a renewable, green fuel. But when its full life-cycle emissions are analyzed, it often fares worse than gasoline. This includes:
Ethanol’s byproduct (distillers grains) is a cheap feed for cattle, directly supporting large-scale meat production. This adds another layer of emissions through:
The U.S. uses millions of acres of prime farmland to grow corn for fuel instead of food or reforestation. These decisions have prevented: