rustman
04-05-2011, 07:30 AM
With all this talk of ethanol and the environment and the reality of it now moving mainstream here in Canada I have begun to wonder why? The more I read and listen the more I am beginning to think this ethanol idiom is not quite what it appears to be. It is proven it will destroy a two-stroke engine without proper precautions, and thats only from the heat. Several people are convinced it will detract from the lubricating qualities of two stroke oil, therefore promoting premature bottom end failure via bearings going bad.
I was under the impression, perhaps the motive of the media, that ethanol is better for the environment. After not much research I am beginning to realize that this is far from the case, here is one article that pretty much calls that hypothesis hogwash. http://healthandenergy.com/ethanol.htm
One stat contained there is particularly frightening,
If all the automobiles in the United States were fueled with 100 percent ethanol, a total of about 97 percent of U.S. land area would be needed to grow the corn feedstock. Corn would cover nearly the total land area of the United States.
That is only one source I realize but seemingly a reputable one. Here is another link that has some decent info also, and pretty much solidifies the previous articles arguement.
http://www.suite101.com/content/cost-of-ethanol-a26612
One quote from that article pretty much sums it up...
Currently the costs of ethanol production are relatively high; without various government subsidies they would be too high.
It seems that the government is pushing ethanol upon us and at what cost? It takes more energy to produce a gallon of ethanol than the energy contained within that volume. That simply means a net loss of energy.
Now, what to make of all that. From my limited experience and miniscule mind it would seem that the intention is to spike the US economy. By mandating the use of ethanol, the government throws money at farmers and factories who produce the stuff. Tariffs are so high on imported ethanol that no one can make a profit from it by selling it here. Is that a bad thing, I'm not sure, it seems a better option than sending billions of dollars to the middle eastern countries. I'm just not certain it is the best answer, as a replacement for gasoline it just cant work, we dont have the land mass to support it. A dilly of a pickle for sure!
I was under the impression, perhaps the motive of the media, that ethanol is better for the environment. After not much research I am beginning to realize that this is far from the case, here is one article that pretty much calls that hypothesis hogwash. http://healthandenergy.com/ethanol.htm
One stat contained there is particularly frightening,
If all the automobiles in the United States were fueled with 100 percent ethanol, a total of about 97 percent of U.S. land area would be needed to grow the corn feedstock. Corn would cover nearly the total land area of the United States.
That is only one source I realize but seemingly a reputable one. Here is another link that has some decent info also, and pretty much solidifies the previous articles arguement.
http://www.suite101.com/content/cost-of-ethanol-a26612
One quote from that article pretty much sums it up...
Currently the costs of ethanol production are relatively high; without various government subsidies they would be too high.
It seems that the government is pushing ethanol upon us and at what cost? It takes more energy to produce a gallon of ethanol than the energy contained within that volume. That simply means a net loss of energy.
Now, what to make of all that. From my limited experience and miniscule mind it would seem that the intention is to spike the US economy. By mandating the use of ethanol, the government throws money at farmers and factories who produce the stuff. Tariffs are so high on imported ethanol that no one can make a profit from it by selling it here. Is that a bad thing, I'm not sure, it seems a better option than sending billions of dollars to the middle eastern countries. I'm just not certain it is the best answer, as a replacement for gasoline it just cant work, we dont have the land mass to support it. A dilly of a pickle for sure!