Corn-Based Ethanol Doesn’t Hold Water
The Kansas City Star has a PRO-CON article on the use of corn-based ethanol as fuel. The PRO corn based article is surprisingly lacking in facts backing up its assertion that corn-based ethanol is a good idea. They believe that all vehicles should be E85 compatible, but give no reason why. Given the many reasons why it might be good to use E85, such as it being a more environment-friendly fuel, the PRO side falls flat. The only information they offer up is that the supplies of ethanol are adequate for consumers to be using E85.
(Click through for the other side of the argument.)
The CON side of the story offers a view with some substance and a few startling facts. “In the Gulf of Mexico, a ‘dead zone,’ at times the size of New Jersey, has cropped up off Louisiana each spring and summer since at least 1985. In this zone, the water doesn’t hold enough dissolved oxygen to support marine life.
Comments
Steve
Yeah, Ethanol just doesn't make sense. Biodiesel, however...
Russ Bellinis
It doesn't matter what bio-friendly fuel you chose, at this time it is more expensive to produce and consumes more energy to make than the cost of refining gasoline. I think we need to continue exploring all options looking for a breakthrough that will make a fuel economical and practical for use. After reading the article in the recent Hot Rod Mag about the octane rating of E85, I would love to build a car with enough compression to take advantage of it; but there are no gas stations in California selling E85.
Ducati Minor
This is more of an op-ed than a News piece.
MGBYG
Heavily subsidized corn production made corn syrup cheaper than sugar. Using corn as fuel will raise it's cost due to competition for the limited supply.
Using food for fuel is not a good bargain, no matter your politics. And don't forget draining what is left of the ground-water in middle America to grow the stuff...
Peter Bromiley
Wake Up. You guys simply do not get it. For a while we may have to endure some added costs and incovenience while Ethanol roduction in this country sorts itself out and gets to better sources than corn. This will happen once usage of E85 develops on a supply and demand basis,and the good ole American enterprise and engineering skills do what they can and will do given he chance.
There is no technical or cost reason why all new vehicles which can accept E85 cannot be produced with the flex fuel option, even if he E85 is not yet available universally, or if the potential veicle purchaser has a preference for normal gasoline at this stage, because either choice will work in flex fuel vehicles.
What is compelling is that E85 and biodiesel are the only realstic avenues down the road to freedom from the clutches of the thugs and terrorists of 911 and the Cole and the Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and bombs in buses & trains in the UK & Spain.
Increased use of E85 will bring with it increased knowlege and improvements in production and usage regimes.
Development of Ethanol will never come near to the rape of the environment which crude oil production and refining caused through the years. Remember the Tea Pot Dome and the old gas and haze belching refineries anyone???.
Ultimately, on known options at this point in time, Hydrogen is the ultimate goal but we need cheap nuclear power to facilitate separating oxygen from hydrogen in sea and waste water before hydrogen becomes practical.
Increasing the present hydrogen production tecnique of synthesizing natural gas is like filling fire extinguishers with gasoline.
The only yardstick to use in evaluating E85 and Biodiesel right now is, " Does it reduce our dependance on Moslem Terrorist controlled Oil supplies"
Anyone who does not realise how, with every barrel of oil we import from muslim countries we are directly financing our enemies.
We need to get the do gooder stars out of our eyes. It is all about survival of civilization as we know and enjoy it. Reviewing, once a week, the 911 documentaries and seeing innocent sols jumping out of sky scrapers would be a good starting point.
detroit9000
Uh oh. Winding Road traveling down the op-ed path. Consternation ensues.
The medical costs associated with wounded veterans of our Middle East campaigns are going to top $500 Billion according to Harper's.
Why don't you ask one of those veterans how they feel about foreign oil?
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