I feel that ethanol is a viable and economic alternative to using just gasoline. It reduces our dependency on foreign companies for all of our fuel, since we grow the corn needed here in the United States. However, this increase in the amount of ethanol might not be entirely beneficial.
Only cars made since 2001 will be able to support this increase in the ethanol mixture, according to the article, so people that have cars older will have to make sure they are going to the correct gas stations. Also, the increase in demand for using corn for ethanol will drive up the price for corn.
Overall, I feel this decision by the EPA is beneficial to the US as a whole because it helps reduce our dependency on foreign oil and oil in general.
I thought the discussions over ethanol had to do with a) whether or not so many of our energy subsidies should be going there rather than to other renewables (the EIA considers ethanol a "renewable") and b) whether or not we should be diverting corn from the food markets. Can you respond to these questions, maybe in a future post or two?
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, looks great! Like the links, like the images.
Do you know when we will start to see 15% ethanol pumps? Also, I've heard that ethanol can be harder on your engine because of the high temperatures created in combustion. I really don't know if I am correct on this, as I've only heard it from other students, so I was wondering what your thoughts on it were?
ReplyDeleteI do agree that producing our own fuel is important, but I don't think this is the right way. It increases water pollution, reduces food supply and any money saved at the gas station will go to the government to help pay for all the subsidies.
ReplyDeleteResearch cellulosic ethanol. It is ethanol made from the stalks of corn rather than the grain. That means that it is not competing with a food source.
ReplyDeleteThe use of ethanol in fuel increases the price of tortillas. In other words, if this is pursued, you can expect a giant underground tunnel to be built from Mexico into the US overnight.
ReplyDeleteUh, big Zach, Have you been to the midwest? E85 pumps are at nearly every pump in Nebraska, Kansas, the Dakotas, Iowa, etc. If I'm not mistaken, Colorado subsidies is the reason you don't see E85 pumps in this state. The state government has not made it feasible to sell the stuff and therefore you don't see it at your pumps. Corn! Booya!
ReplyDeleteJust a thought: check out the amount of energy required to grow corn, truck it to an ethanol plant, produce the fuel, truck it to distribution centers, and truck it to the pump. Then compare this with the amount of energy actually produced in a car engine from that unit of ethanol. Now look at similar numbers for traditional gasoline...
ReplyDeleteWhat you find may surprise you. There is a reason this fuel source must be subsidized by the government to make it economical.