Ryne Phillips

November, 11 2010
COMM 150

Persuasive Speech Outline: Corn Ethanol as an Alternative Fuel

I.Introduction –

a) Attention Getter – According to Jonathon Powers, in a 2010 paper titled,

Oil Addiction: Fueling Our Enemies, America imported a total of 4.7
billion barrels of crude oil in 2008 to meet our consumption needs. These
4.7 billion gallons of crude oil we imported represents about 66% of
America’s total oil usage for the year.

b) Reveal/Relate – As Americans, we continually contribute to the fuel

energy crisis throughout our daily travels. Simply traveling to work or
school directly relates our lives to the world of alternative energy.

c) Central Idea – In an attempt to free America’s dependence of foreign oil

use and increase over fuel efficiency, government agencies and other
organizations have turned to corn ethanol fuel blends. As American
consumers of energy we should be mindful of the pros and cons associated
with sources of alternative energy powering American transportation.

d) Establish Credibility and Goodwill – As a result of recent coursework

taken at Clemson University and countless hours of fuel analysis research, I
have become highly knowledgeable in the areas of corn ethanol and viable
alternative energy sources.

e) Preview Main Points – Is corn ethanol really the answer? We see there are
several problems associated with the production of corn ethanol for a fuel
source. Looking at the big picture will reveal the answer to America’s
energy crisis, electric engines.

II.Body –

A.) Problem – Corn Ethanol Misconception: It is often thought that corn ethanol
fuel blends are energy efficient and viable alternatives to conventional gasoline
fuels, however, this is false.

a. Supporting Material (Energy Efficiency) – In a recent article

titled Ethanol Production: Energy, Economic, and Environmental
 Losses, Pimentel, Patzek, and Cecil go on to state that current
ethanol production technology requires only a fraction less energy,
but a substantially higher cost, to create ethanol than ethanol’s total
energy content.

b. Supporting Material (Feasibility) - From information gathered in

a 2010 interview with Kendall Kirk, Agricultural and Biological
Engineering Professor/Researcher, to completely end America’s
dependence on foreign oil through corn ethanol fuel blends, 412
million out of the total 434 million acres of U.S. cropland would
need to be devoted primarily to corn production.

B.) Solution: In order to truly development an efficient and feasible means to

fueling American transportation we will have to eliminate the internal
combustion engine and make a transition to all electric motors.

a. Supporting Material (Lower Emissions) – For example, in a 2009

article titled, Fuel Cell and Battery Electric Vehicles Campared,
C.E. Thomas shows that all electric motors, if implemented, can cut
GHGs by 80%.

b. Supporting Material (Cut Costs)– Furthermore, recent studies

conducted by Sovacool and Hirsh prove, when using 2006 average
electricity and gasoline rates, consumers would spend four times as
much on gasoline to travel the same distance as an all electric
motor. The two researchers went on to conclude that American
drivers would save on average $600 a year by switching to all
electric motors.

III.Conclusion –

A.) Recap Problem and Solution – From this, we can see that corn ethanol poses as a
problem in the fight for a more efficient alternative energy source. To truly develop a
greener, more efficient, and feasible source of alternative energy we must turn to
electric engines.

B.) Refer back to Introduction/Central Idea/Importance – As participants in

American transportation we will always play a direct role in the need for more
sustainable and efficient energy.

C.) Clear Final Action Plan for Audience – There may not be a physical part we can
play in the effort to promote all electric motor vehicles, however, I challenge
everyone to be conscious of the reality that corn ethanol fuels pose no real solution to
 the energy crisis.

D.) Impact Statement for Strong Closing – “It is evident that the fortunes of the
world’s human population, for better or for worse, are inextricably interrelated with
the use that is made of energy resources.” –M. King Hubbert, Resources and Man,
1969 .

References
Kirk, K. (2010, October). Ethanol's Role as an Alternative Energy Source. (R. Phillips,
Interviewer)

Pimentel, D., Patzek, T., & Cecil, G. (2010). Ethanol Production: Energy, Economic, and
Environmental Losses. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, , 25-41.

Powers, J., & Officer, C. O. (2010). Oil addiction: Fueling our enemies.

Sovacool, B. K., & Hirsh, R. F. (2009). Beyond batteries: An examination of the benefits and
barriers to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) transition.
Energy Policy, 37(3), 1095-1103.

Thomas, C. (2009). Fuel cell and battery electric vehicles compared. International Journal of
Hydrogen Energy, 34(15), 6005-6020.