The Ugly Side of Ethanol

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more ethanol use is going to lead to more smog forming pollution across the country. Adding to this, the EPA just announced that it's weakening clean air rules for ethanol production plants.

These announcements come as Colorado Governor Bill Ritter is also pushing for increased ethanol production and use throughout the state.

Ethanol may have a good side, but its ugly side is a pretty bad. Is the good worth the bad? Well, with alternatives like wind power, solar power, bicycles, human feet, and other nonpolluting forms of energy and transportation, we'd have to say no.

An UPDATE: One thing we forgot to add was that many ethanol plants burn coal. And with clean air rules now weakened, many suspect that more coal burning ethanol plants are coming down the line.