Hidden costs of ethenol

Roger, an unsolved issue with alcohol is that smog is produced... I
have not done the reading to see what the solution to that is likely
some form of catalytic convertor so I'm not going to claim it is a
deal breaker, but it is significant...

For the ethanol lovers, I am not against ethanol just against muddy
thinking...
TO get ethanol for vehicles you:
*haul seed and supplies
*plow
*spray pesticides and herbicides
*fertilize
*plant
grow awhile
*knife in nitrogen
grow a bit more
*herbicides / pesticides again
grow awhile more
*harvest
*haul
ferment
*distill
*haul it again
mix with gasoline, or whatever hybrid fuel you make
*haul it again
and finally pump it onto your vehicle

Every step that has an asterisk uses fuel or chemicals or fertilizer
dependent upon petroleum...
The fuel of your grandchildren will be a hydrocarbon product made from
coal, not corn...

denny

"Roger (K8RI)" wrote in message ...
On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:56:46 GMT, cavelamb himself
wrote:


snip

"Just as the events of 9-11 changed how we guard our cities and protect
ourselves, a new generation of ethanol may soon change the way we gas up
our cars and protect the earth." - Dateline NBC

"Our plan to expand into ethanol production has the potential to
generate significant profits and increased shareholder values," JT
Cloud, CEO of Gulf Ethanol.

That it does.

snip

Factors Driving Alternative Energy Investments

* FREEDOM FROM FOREIGN OIL: Ethanol could free America from its
reluctant dependence on foreign oil. This is not a pipedream, conjured

it's doubtful we could make enough alcohol from corn to make more than
a small dent.However using all sources we probably could and becoming
independent of foreign oil is very important. It's also going to be
expensive.



Here is a reply I received back from our Senator here in Michigan:

"Thank you . . .

. . for contacting me about your opposition to the use of ethanol as fuel. I appreciate hearing your views.


I understand your concern that the increased use of corn fuel could contribute to higher corn prices. Corn ethanol is a
first step as we transition into cellulosic ethanol technology, which does not use corn, only agricultural waste
products, and converts them into fuel.

Ethanol is an important piece of the energy puzzle to improve national security; however I recognize that it will not
single-handedly replace gasoline. Congress will tackle these energy questions when it works on the new farm bill this
year, as well as other energy legislation. I will keep your views in mind when the Senate takes up legislation related
to alternative fuels.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to do so again if I can be of assistance to you or your
family.

Sincerely,

Debbie Stabenow

United States Senator

DS: il "

On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 21:19:36 -0700, Stella Starr
wrote:

cavelamb himself wrote:
I am remimded of a quote that said, "when otherwise intelligent people
do stupid stuff, there is usually politics involved".

So not only do we pay more for less power in out auto fuel...


http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/20...nd-for-ethanol


It's spelled ethanol, not ethenol, babe. Dang non media types, no copy
editing. (tongue-in-cheek mode into low gear)

And while it's true that corn's up a good deal from its 2000 price of
$1.95 a bushel, it's also true that in 1950 corn cost... $2.00 a bushel.

The cost of the corn in a bag of Doritos is 2 cents, so folks howling

The cost of corn in the bag may be two cents, but if the cost of corn
doubles the cost of the Doritos will go up a lot more than another 2
cents. More than likely they will go up by a good 50% even though
about half the cost of them like soft drinks is in the packaging and
handling.


about its effect on other consumer products are crying wolf, dear. We
pay less of our income for food than any other consumers on earth and
nobody I've seen lately is in any danger of starving.

Let them brew up their corn ethanol for another year or so until others
start making it out of weeds, leftover winegrapeskins, and other crap
and the Midwestern plants are standing empty. When the price of corn
goes back down to two bucks a bushel once again, don't hold your breath
waiting for cheaper Doritos...that's not the way the system works.

Of course by then we'll "win" the "war" in Iraq and gas will be real
cheap again.

Ahhhh...you forgot the sarcasm mode on switch :-))

Stella Starr wrote:

It's spelled ethanol, not ethenol, babe. Dang non media types, no copy
editing. (tongue-in-cheek mode into low gear)

Ya got me again, beautiful.

My software doesn't spell check the subject line - and after 9pm I can't
spell worth a darn.

Oh well, so much for fame and fortune...

Richard