Coal-power ethanol plant emissions 92% higher than with gas

A natural gas-powered Des Moines facility would release 92 percent less carbon dioxide, firm says.

A new report by researchers of an Ames company shows that coal-powered ethanol plants release as much as 92 percent more carbon dioxide than those powered by natural gas.

Carbon dioxide is the gas that scientists most frequently blame for global warming.

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The carbon dioxide report was released this week by Frontline BioEnergy. Frontline works with and promotes technological advancements to convert plants into a mixture of gases that could be used to replace some natural gas burned in ethanol plants. Frontline is not associated with the two companies competing to build in Des Moines.

Frontline’s analysis of a plant that would produce 50 million gallons of ethanol a year show a coal-powered facility would release as much as 207,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year while a natural gas-powered plant would emit 108,000 tons.

Des Moines’ proposed plants would produce at least 100 million gallons of ethanol a year. That means that the coal-powered plant would release as much as 414,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year, according to the report.

Des Moines Register