The main method of US ethanol production (corn) is pretty bad. ... with another third grown for ethanol for cars. Ethanol in itself really isn't bad at all. A field of corn in summer looks green, but is it being green? Here is a list of why it is bad in the US and also why it is good. As reported in the featured article, certain assumptions were made about the price of corn, the number of acres planted, and the yield from each acre, in order to squeeze ethanol into the green category. Producing ethanol from corn is a bad idea not only because of the poor energy return on investment (EROI), but also because of the impact it is having on ecosystems in the Midwest Production of ethanol has dramatically increased acreage devoted to corn in the Midwest.Photo Credit: Lynn Betts, USDA-NRCS Corn-based ethanol as a vehicle fuel has never been a good idea. The Obama administration last week gave the green light to corn ethanol as a low-carbon renewable fuel – in apparent contradiction to California's declaration last summer that the biofuel's carbon footprint was too big to help the state mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. One of the most unexpected developments of the ethanol experiment is the loss of millions of acres of natural habitat to grow corn and soybeans, not for the dinner table but for the gas-station pump. Wheat, barley and potatoes are also sources of ethanol. Updated on January 25, 2019. So where is the U.S. today in corn ethanol space? There are a couple of ways to make fuel-grade ethanol, and one of the most common ones is the dry-mill method, which goes something like this: Ethanol—The Green Alternative That Demolishes the Environment. And by driving up the price of food, corn ethanol is also costing all of us money – by increasing the cost of federal programs like food stamps and school lunches. Corn is bad for your body, your car & the environment. Growing corn for ethanol involves large amounts of synthetic fertilizer and herbicide. There’s a lot of corn in America, but very little is destined to end on your plate in a natural form. Let's take a look at some of the bad and good about ethanol gasoline. The Environmental Risks Of Corn Production 06:07. But the Obama administration stands by it, highlighting its benefits to the farming industry rather than any negative impact," Star Tribune 4 reports. During the reception, while eating dinner, the conversation turned to food and a fellow guest issued me this challenge: Why is it bad to use corn as a raw material for foods and as a feed for farm animals? In Brazil, it's most commonly made with sugarcane. This is especially true for industrial corn farmers. Though ethanol and other biofuels are often promoted as clean, low-cost alternatives to gasoline, industrial corn and soy farming still have a harmful impact on the environment, just in a different way. In the Editorial from Investor's Business Daily "EPA Says Ethanol Damages The Environment - Isn't it Time TO Kill The Program" IBD makes the point and poses the question:. Pros and Cons of Ethanol in Gas. In the United States, it's usually made from corn. In 2000, over 90% of the U.S. corn crop went to feed people and livestock, many in undeveloped countries, with less than 5% used to produce ethanol.