Redirecting Ethanol subsidies to Switchgrass

In an article by the Economist published April 30, 2005. The author says, "As in
Churchill's day, energy security still depends on variety. But now that variety needs to be sought
in sources of energy, rather than sources of oil alone.” The United State's is currently perusing
environmentally 'friendly' energy sources that actually use more gasoline to produce than they
save. This contradiction is curious because there are better sources of alternative energy. Such is
the case with Corn Ethanol. Corn Ethanol uses more gasoline to produce than it saves. However,
there is a much better source for ethanol that uses five times less gasoline to produce and is a
more powerful fuel. Because of this obvious contradiction and the necessity for energy diversity,
my partner and I stand resolute that the United States Federal Government should significantly
reform its environmental policy.

In order to promote clarity in this round, we've got to define a couple of terms in Part 1.
The Definitions.

1. Environmental Policy "(Environmental policy) is any (course of) action deliberately taken
(or not taken) to manage human activities with a view to prevent, reduce or mitigate harmful
effects on nature and natural resources, and ensuring that man-made changes to the environment
do not have harmful effects on humans."

2. Reform "to put an end to (an evil) by enforcing or introducing a better method or course of
action."

Any additional definitions as well as sources are available upon request.

McCormick, John (2001). Environmental Policy in the European Union. The European Series.
Palgrave. p. 21.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reform

Before we launch into our case, we would like to offer a criterion to judge today's debate round
with. A criterion is like a measuring stick with which to view this round. We believe that the
hypocrisy in the status quo needs to change. If you believe that we the affirmative team can
provide a better alternative to heavily subsidizing corn ethanol, we would ask you to vote
affirmative.

First, let’s look at what’s going on in the Status Quo in Part 2. Inherency.
 1. Corn Ethanol subsidized 1.50/gallon

Z Facts (Features articles about US government policy in the areas of economy, foreign
policy, energy issues, health, affordable housing, education, welfare,)
Published at http://zfacts.com/p/63.html.
"Subsidies for corn ethanol" Published June 2, 2009; accessed June 30, 2009

"Together with the direct subsidies of $0.9 billion for corn and $2.5 billion for ethanol the
grand total is $7.3 billion. That's $1.50 per gallon of ethanol."
Next, let’s move on and look at the harmful impacts of subsidizing corn ethanol in Part 3.
The Harms

1. Ethanol Fuel from Corn Faulted as ‘Unsustainable Subsidized Food Burning’

Health and Energy September, 2001, "Ethanol Fuel from Corn Faulted as
‘Unsustainable Subsidized Food Burning’", healthandenergy,
http://healthandenergy.com/ethanol.htm
Adding up the energy costs of corn production and its conversion to ethanol, 131,000 BTUs
are needed to make 1 gallon of ethanol. One gallon of ethanol has an energy value of only
77,000 BTU. "Put another way", Pimentel says, "about 70 percent more energy is required to
produce ethanol than the energy that actually is in ethanol. Every time you make 1 gallon of
ethanol, there is a net energy loss of 54,000 BTU".

However, there is a better way to create Ethanol. Because there is a better way, we are
compelled to bring to you the following Plan.

Mandate 1. Cut subsidies for corn ethanol

Mandate 2. Subsidize Switchgrass ethanol at 1 dollar per gallon.

Mandate 3. This amount will be adjusted as technology advances to allow more efficient
cellulose ethanol production.

Funding shall come from the redirection of Corn Ethanol Subsidies. The remaining money left
over will be used to help pay off the national debt.
1. Corn Ethanol subsidized 1.50/gallon

Z Facts (Features articles about US government policy in the areas of economy, foreign
policy, energy issues, health, affordable housing, education, welfare,)
Published at http://zfacts.com/p/63.html.
"Subsidies for corn ethanol" Published June 2, 2009; accessed June 30, 2009

"Together with the direct subsidies of $0.9 billion for corn and $2.5 billion for ethanol the
grand total is $7.3 billion. That's $1.50 per gallon of ethanol,"

Timeline: This plan takes place at the start of the fiscal year after an affirmative ballot.
Agency: All necessary agencies

Enforcement: The EPA, the State Department and the Justice Department.

Addendum: The affirmative team reserves the right to clarify the plan as needed.

Now let’s look on at how the plan solves the harms in Part 4. Solvency
1. Switchgrass Subsidies

Card institute (The Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) is a public
policy research center for agricultural economics at Iowa State University.)
Published at www.card.iastate.edu/presentations/Hart-Mar5Webcast.pp.
"Farm-Level Incentives and Policy for Growing Alternative Energy Feedstocks
" Published March 17, 2007; accessed June 29, 2009

"Based on these numbers, land would not move to switchgrass without additional support
Subsidies from $44 to $107/ton

2. Switchgrass is better than corn and is coming up fast

The Scientific American ( Latest news and features on science issues that matter
including earth, environment, and space. )
Published at http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=grass-makes-better-
ethanol-than-corn.
"Grass Makes Better Ethanol than Corn Does - Midwestern farms prove switchgrass
could be the right crop for producing ethanol to replace " Published January 8, 2008;
accessed June 29, 2009

"Farmers in Nebraska and the Dakotas brought the U.S. closer to becoming a biofuel
economy, planting huge tracts of land for the first time with switchgrass—a native North
American perennial grass (Panicum virgatum) that often grows on the borders of
cropland naturally—and proving that it can deliver more than five times more energy
than it takes to grow it."

Now let’s explore the significant improvements over the Status Quo that can be
gained by adopting our plan in Part 5. Advantages

3. Switchgrass helps stop erosion

Bioenergy Feedstock Informaton Network

Published at http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/papers/misc/switgrs.html.
"Biofuels from Switchgrass: Greener Energy Pastures" Published January 31, 2001;
accessed June 29, 2009

"Annual cultivation of many agricultural crops depletes the soil's organic matter, steadily
reducing fertility. But switchgrass adds organic matter—the plants extend nearly as far
below ground as above. And with its network of stems and roots, switchgrass holds onto
soil even in winter to prevent erosion.

Besides helping slow runoff and anchor soil, switchgrass can also filter runoff from fields
planted with traditional row crops. Buffer strips of switchgrass, planted along
streambanks and around wetlands, could remove soil particles, pesticides, and fertilizer
residues from surface water before it reaches groundwater or streams—and could also
provide energy.

And because switchgrass removes carbon dioxide (CO2 ) from the air as it grows, it has
the potential to slow the buildup of this greenhouse gas in Earth's atmosphere. Unlike
fossil fuels, which simply release more and more of the CO2 that's been in geologic
storage for millions of years, energy crops of switchgrass "recycle" CO2 over and over
again, with each year's cycle of growth and use."
4. Switchgrass provides 20 times more energy than corn

Bioenergy Feedstock Informaton Network

Published at http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/papers/misc/switgrs.html.
"Biofuels from Switchgrass: Greener Energy Pastures" Published January 31, 2001;
accessed June 29, 2009

"Looking down the road, McLaughlin believes switchgrass offers important advantages
as an energy crop. "Producing ethanol from corn requires almost as much energy to
produce as it yields," he explains, "while ethanol from switchgrass can produce about five
times more energy than you put in. When you factor in the energy required to make
tractors, transport farm equipment, plant and harvest, and so on, the net energy output of
switchgrass is about 20 times better than corn's." Switchgrass also does a far better job of
protecting soil, virtually eliminating erosion. And it removes considerably more CO2
from the air, packing it away in soils and roots."
3. Switchgrass can reduce fossil fuel reliance

Environment News Service (ENS contributors around the world cover issues and events
that affect the environment such as: legislation, politics, conferences, lawsuits,
international agreements, demonstrations, science and technology, public health, air
quality, drinking water, oceans and marine life, land use, wildlife, forests, natural
disasters, the indoor environment, hazardous materials, toxics, nuclear issues,
renewable energy, recycling, transportation, and environmental economics. Respected,
knowledgeable correspondents file stories to the central ENS editorial desk. In addition
to being journalists, ENS contributors are often experts in other fields. They may be
lawyers, economists, biologists or geographers. Most are based in centers such as
Washington, London, Brussels, Moscow, Canberra, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Kathmandu,
or Cape Town. Some travel on assignment.

ENS has been first with many stories over the years. An ENS correspondent was on the
ground during the first days of the Gulf War and was first to report on the
environmental consequences of that conflict. An ENS reporter was first into the Soviet
secret nuclear site at Alma Ata. ENS correspondents have covered the ecological effects
of conflicts in Croatia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
)
Published at http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2008/2008-01-08-091.asp.
"Switchgrass Ethanol Yields Large Net Energy Gain" Published January 8, 2008;
accessed June 29, 2009

"In a biorefinery, switchgrass biomass can be broken down into sugars including glucose
and xylose that can be fermented into ethanol similar to corn. Grain from corn and other
annual cereal grains, such as sorghum, are now primary sources for ethanol production in
the U.S.

In the future, perennial crops, such as switchgrass, as well as crop residues and forestry
biomass could be developed as major cellulosic ethanol sources that could potentially
displace 30 percent of current U.S. petroleum consumption, Vogel said."

Judge: Because there is a better way, because Switchgrass can help end our reliance
on foreign oil, and because we can adopt a better environmental energy policy, we
would strongly urge you to affirm with us that the United States Federal
Government should significantly reform its environmental policy.