EPA’s Scientific Advisory Board Downplays Corn Ethanol Weather Advantages

“The too much to handle preponderance of scientific analyses and empirical facts evidently display that corn starch ethanol substantially reduces GHG emissions relative to the gasoline it replaces. We adamantly disagree with the SAB’s assertion that ‘the ideal available science’ implies there are ‘minimal or no local climate benefits’ linked to substituting corn ethanol for gasoline. Indeed, the greatest available science exhibits just the opposite.”

Cooper points to analysis done at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne Nationwide Laboratory. Argonne uncovered the ordinary carbon depth of corn ethanol to be 52.4 grams for each megajoule.

“This is a 44% reduction in contrast to the carbon intensity of petroleum gasoline mix inventory (93 grams CO2e/megajoule, as believed by Argonne),” Cooper writes.

“The researchers identified that corn ethanol has ‘helped the U.S. transportation sector decrease GHG emissions by 544 million metric tons’ around the earlier 15 several years. In conclusion, the Argonne researchers located that corn ethanol ‘…provides sizeable GHG emission reductions’ as opposed to U.S. regular petroleum gasoline and noted that corn ethanol ‘…can engage in a essential function in the U.S. motivation for deep decarbonization of its economic climate.’ The SAB commentary does not consist of a single acknowledgement or point out of Argonne’s thorough investigation quantifying the GHG impacts of corn ethanol.”

In its commentary the SAB cites one particular research by Lark et al. from 2022.

“When the SAB acknowledges that Lark et al. prompted various scientific critiques and criticisms from their tutorial friends, the board fails to adequately look at or contextualize individuals reproaches,” Cooper reported in the letter.

Cooper stated the marketplace is involved about the system employed by the SAB to compose the commentary.

“Devoid of offering any progress notification to the public or chance for enter, the SAB recognized a ‘RFS workgroup’ to consider EPA’s proposed rule for 2023-2025 renewable volume obligations,” Cooper writes.

“The six-man or woman get the job done group incorporated users with expertise and instruction in psychology, general public affairs, human toxicology and other fields unrelated to bioenergy and local climate science. No experts with biofuels business expertise have been invited to take part in the do the job group on the other hand, the team bundled the chief scientist from a New York-centered environmental lobbying and political advocacy group that has lobbied for repeal of the RFS. We strongly persuade the SAB to do greater in making certain related knowledge and a balance of perspectives are bundled in get the job done groups targeted on the biofuels policies administered by EPA.”

Todd Neeley can be reached at [email protected]

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