Corn ethanol -- The thermodynamics and environmental and political realities

Clifford, Timothy; Ferris, Lori A.

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Corn ethanol -- The thermodynamics and environmental and political realities

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The goal of this project was to explore the ethanol industry in the U.S. In this report we detail the energy balance of producing ethanol; the impact ethanol can have on the economy as a substitute for gasoline, as well as ethanol's environmental impacts. This report shows that although the net energy balance of producing ethanol is positive, the industry would not survive without huge government subsidies.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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