Central Ohio Relocalization Effort (CORE), Columbus, Ohio

The editor of the Columbus Dispatch did an excellent piece on corn ethanol
on August 10, 2007 titled "Look before Leaping".
http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/editorials/stories/2007/08/10/c...

The Dispatch brought attention to the pollution the refineries create, the energy needed to create a fuel that will take you 3/4 as far as gasoline, the increased cost of food, and the environmental degradation that is occurring. It was great to see them weigh in on this really important topic.

However, the Executive Director of Clean Fuels Ohio, Sam Spofforth, responded with another letter to the editor - published 16 days later. His response (link below) contained both misrepresentations and falsehoods. It is unfortunate for Ohio that this group has gained so much traction since it was founded in 2002. By the way, 2002 is the same year Governor Taft signed into law the inclusion of corn ethanol as a recipient of Ohio Air Quality Development Authority funds which made ethanol refineries (that are very polluting) eligible for state subsidies and/or incentives.

Clean Fuels Ohio is part of the federal Clean Cities program that was launched in 1993 in response to the Energy Policy Act of 1992. This program has 80 coalitions throughout the country and their stated goal (in August 2007) is to displace 2.5 billion gallons of petroleum annually by 2020. The US corn ethanol production has already surpassed that goal. This program needs to be de-funded. It was never designed to address peak oil, global warming or air pollution. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 was pushed by the 1st George Bush to garner support in his run for a second term and win votes in the corn states.

Sadly, getting votes and support in the corn states in election 2008, is still influencing the way Congress is trying to expand huge corn subsidies in the Farm Bill 2007.