Letter: Things to consider about ethanol

Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007 | 7:12 a.m.

I predict that those people who are promoting the expanded use of ethanol as a substantial additive to gasoline will, before too long, be pulling in their horns.

Will the total cost of adding ethanol to gasoline prove to be prohibitive? Maybe not, if we are not concerned about the ultimate cost of gas and various food products.

I believe that, because of its consistency, corn being transported to ethanol plants has to be shipped by either truck or rail and not by pipeline. This will be good for the trucking and rail industries, but what about the cost? Also, was the cost of shipping the ethanol to gasoline refineries for blending with gasoline factored in?

Before we get into this project, on an all systems go, we better make certain that the tangible benefits exceed the potentially higher cost. Look at the fiasco that occurred with the windmill power plantation developed outside of Palm Springs, Calif., several years ago.

What is going to happen to the price of corn, which is an important staple for Mexico and other South American countries? Brazil has to pillage a portion of its rain forest to grow enough sugar cane to relieve itself of its dependence on oil. Was it worth it?

Just offering a few comments for those people promoting ethanol to consider, in depth, so as not to create another debacle as the windmill power fiasco in California.

Clarence Lanzrath,Las Vegas