GOT_LINK?

Today's pesky follow-up e-mail* went out to the National Center for Policy Analysis's E-Team, in response to their press release: Bush's Call For Energy Independence Unattainable.

This is the offending info-deficient and link-less statement:

A study from scientists in New York and California, for instance, has shown that it takes as much or even more energy to make ethanol than the energy it produces. In other words, burning ethanol could actually increase our need for oil and gas imports.

You know, I am perfectly willing to base my belief in God on faith. But for statements regarding the futility of renewable energy resources, I like the names of the scientists and the full titles of their studies.

FYI: The ExxonMobil Foundation is one of NCPA's generous sponsors.

*Update to follow if the E-Team ever identifies the relevant ethanol study.


Update Thanks to Richard W. Walker, Senior Vice President, National Center for Policy Analysis, for responding to my e-mail. According to Mr. Walker, the source for the link-less statement above is this press release, which in turn cites an article by David Pimentel (Cornell) and Tad W. Patzek (Berkeley) published in Natural Resources Research (2005;14[1]:65=76). That's Professor Pimentel filling up the gas tank at $2.51 per gallon.


ALSO, thanks to Fallenmonk for leaving a great link (in the Comments) to additional sources on biofuels and the contentious debate regarding their cost-effectiveness.