Corn Ethanol Mandates. The Worst Piece of Legislation Ever?

A clean energy America at the expense of a not so clean economy. Exhibit A: Corn Ethanol. The idea was simple and highly marketable. Find and promote a product that is clean, cheap, and renewable. And perhaps most importantly, ensure that this product lessens domestic dependency on foreign oil. Corn Ethanol was touted as the future - the flagship of an environmentally conscious energy movement. Capitol Hill got on board and soon mandates and sweeping legislation were enacted. The Federal Government would subsidize Ethanol and mandate its consumption. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 would, in part, require additives of Corn Ethanol to be mixed into general gasoline supplies. In 2009 the required figures were around 11 billion gallons with plans to boost levels to 36 billion by 2022. It all sounded like a great idea with only the best of intentions. But of course, these mandates would never have been needed if these eco-savvy alternatives were able to compete independently. What have been some of the negative consequences? Increased gas prices. Soil erosion. Widespread deforestation. Increased water requirements. Pollution from fertilizer and pesticides. Increased corn costs. Increased consumer food costs. And throughout the entire production process, Ethanol emits greater green house gases than does the production of regular gasoline. Making a single gallon of Corn Ethanol requires 1.29 gallons of gasoline. And the price tag for all of this? A whopping $7 Billion per year. And the pain may only worsen as mandated levels are cranked up in the years ahead. Ethanol as the magic cure? Not so fast. The only thing magical seems to be the miraculous disappearance of tax dollars. Corn Ethanol subsidies represent an egregiously expensive measure that has resulted in little more than a phony economic boost and the mirage of environmental sustainability. This costly flop serves as a beaming reminder of the ever present dangers of unintended consequences.