Pros And Cons Of Biofuel In The United States

Do you think the sun, wind, and corn can save our economy? Help keep us safer? Protect the environment?
The Pro-Quest staff reports that the United States of America is getting a majority of its oil imported from their countries which can be a point of concern in fuel cost. Relying on foreign countries for oil is also a security concern for the United States, especially when the main oil exporters in the Mid-east have been at war for decades. By producing our own biofuel, the United States has the option of becoming energy independent, which would allow us to control and help regulate the pricing and usage better (ProQuest Staff). This paper will examine the pro, con, and my viewpoint on whether biofuel is the best way to reduce United States

In particular, biofuel is of poor value compared to regular gasoline. Robert Bryce, writer for The New York Times, explains that biofuel has a “lower energy density” compared to gasoline so you have to buy more biofuel to get the same total energy output as straight gasoline (Bryce). Fueleconomy.gov, a Federal Government Website, contends that a car which that burns the most common form of biofuel get less miles to the gallon (Bryce). Bryce declares that biofuel is a “boondoggle” because it is a poor value compared to gasoline (Bryce). In addition, biofuels are not as environmentally clean as predicted. Dina Cappiello, writer for the Clarion Ledger, notes that in the short term, some biofuels create more global warming than gasoline (Cappiello). Cappiello reports that leaving the corn husk to rot fertilizes the field, while turning the husk into biofuel adds to global warming (Cappiello). Cappiello argues that current biofuels do not even qualify as “renewable energy” according to environmental laws (Cappiello). Plus, biofuel has created some hidden problems, according to the USA Today newspaper. USA Today also states that biofuel production using corn has caused food prices to rise (SIRS). The USA Today also notes that car manufacturers will not guarantee their engines if the driver uses gasoline with more than 10% biofuel (SIRS). The USA Today point out that government regulation causes major refineries to

Rather, I believe that the United States should adopt a renewable energy portfolio which includes biofuel, solar energy, and wind energy at the very least. To begin, biofuel can be a good fuel, but is not the greatest thing. Barack Obama, the United States President, implies that biofuel will help us cut back on foreign imports so that America does not need to rely on as much foreign oil (Mufason). Dinneen, C.E.O of Renewable Fuel, writes that biofuel saves drivers over $1,200 a year because it costs less than regular gasoline (Dinneen). President Obama believes that the use of biofuel will help prevent oil spills from happening again like the one in the Gulf of Mexico (Mufason). Next, wind energy could also help with our energy crisis by reducing the stress on big power plants and boost our economy because they would be able to lower their prices. Mathias Aarre Maehul, writer for Energy Information, claims that wind power has the opportunity to power 20 times more than the human race needs (Maehul). Maehul explains that wind power is created by a nuclear fusion process in the sun so there is no way for us to run out (Maehul). Maehul points out that 600 average United States homes can be powered by a single large wind turbine (Maehul). Conserve Energy Future (Conserve Energy Future), an Energy Conservation website, notes that we can use solar energy as