The Dark Side of Ethanol Posted on Apr 18, 2007 A new study out
of Stanford University says ethanol could worsen smog problems,
as the alternative fuel may produce dirtier air than gasoline.
Ethanol has already been something of a mixed bag for
environmentalists, who are desperate for politically viable
alternative fuels but troubled by the high cost of corn-based
ethanol. AP via Yahoo: Nearly 200 more people would die yearly
from respiratory problems if all vehicles in the United States
ran on a mostly ethanol fuel blend by 2020, the research
concludes. Of course, the study author acknowledges that such a
quick and monumental shift to plant-based fuels is next to
impossible. Each year, about 4,700 people, according to the
study’s author, die from respiratory problems from ozone, the
unseen component of smog along with small particles. Ethanol
would raise ozone levels, particularly in certain regions of the
country, including the Northeast and Los Angeles. “It’s not
green in terms of air pollution,” said stud