The use of corn to make ethanol motor fuel is increasing in the United States, d

The use of corn to make ethanol motor fuel is increasing in the United States, driven by substantial government subsidies. However, according to Cornell University agricultural scientist Dr. David Pimentel, “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, about 70 percent more energy is required to produce ethanol than the energy that actually is in ethanol.”  Much of the energy used to make ethanol is derived from gasoline and diesel fuel, and more than half of it is imported. Research the issue, and comment on the long-term viability of an ethanol-based transport system derived from corn, based on Pimentel’s statistics.