Ethanol fuels: Energy, economics and environmental impact

Without the US federal and state subsidies of some $1 billion/year, ethanol production from corn would just not be economic. The total energy Input to produce 1000 litres of ethanol is 8.5 million kcal while the energy value of 1000 litres is 5.1 million kcal. Besides the uneconomic corn to ethanol production and processing costs, environmental cost from the Intensively ma naged corn through pollution from fertilizer and pesticide applications amo unt to about $9 billion/year in the US. Further, for the production of each litre of ethanol 13 litres of wastewater is generated.