Ethanol may finally be on its way out!

[Por_sha911]

From MSNBC:
Ethanol, once darling, is losing some luster
GOP drops subsides from platform as it’s widely blamed for food prices

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Ethanol's wild ride has brought it quickly from political golden child to scapegoat for everything from soaring food prices and world hunger to pork-barrel spending.

This week, the Republican Party in its national platform called for an end to ethanol mandates in just the latest shot at a fuel alternative that, in some circles, has grown more targeted than treasured.

[Jagshund]

That's good news for the moment but they've still got to figure out the next alternative fuel.

[varmint]

ethanol has worked it's way into state regulations. almost impossible to get rod of now.

[Mule]

Originally Posted by 1968Cayman

That's good news for the moment but they've still got to figure out the next alternative fuel.

Oil, refined from USA crude!

[red-beard]

How about Methanol made from USA coal.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by varmint

ethanol has worked it's way into state regulations. almost impossible to get rod of now.

I'm afraid you are right...Oregon's Governor, with the aid of a lefty state legislature, took $$$$ millions of taxpayer money, put it into buiding an ethanol plant. Then they passed a law making 10% ethanol fuel mandatory for the entire state. The boxcars of corn grown in the midwest arrive at this plant.

[Jim Richards]

I hope we can kill off this corn-based ethanol "experiment."

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

I hope we can kill off this corn-based ethanol "experiment."

+1

I have an auto fuel STC (supplemental type certificate) to burn autogas in my airplane as do many other owners of small private aircraft, however it specifically spells out NO ethanol. For years I have been able to top my airplane with car gas at home.... Not any more.... The local fuel company that delivers fuel to my 500 gallon tank recently informed me that they cannot get non ethanol containing fuel any more.

So now I have to pay $5.25-$6.00 a gallon for avgas to be legal.

All because of the lie that ethanol is a good alternate fuel.

[Mule]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I'm afraid you are right...Oregon's Governor, with the aid of a lefty state legislature, took $$$$ millions of taxpayer money, put it into buiding an ethanol plant. Then they passed a law making 10% ethanol fuel mandatory for the entire state. The boxcars of corn grown in the midwest arrive at this plant.

If the subsidies go away it will become too expensive.

[Mule]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

+1

I have an auto fuel STC (supplemental type certificate) to burn autogas in my airplane as do many other owners of small private aircraft, however it specifically spells out NO ethanol. For years I have been able to top my airplane with car gas at home.... Not any more.... The local fuel company that delivers fuel to my 500 gallon tank recently informed me that they cannot get non ethanol containing fuel any more.

So now I have to pay $5.25-$6.00 a gallon for avgas to be legal.

All because of the lie that ethanol is a good alternate fuel.

A sub-lie to the biggest lie, global warming!

[BReif61]

While the intent was good, this was a flawed experiment from the start (corn-based). I'd still like to see progress made on sugar-based ethanol though.

[Jim Sims]

Ethanol is likely to remain blended in gasoline no matter what happens to subsidies due to air pollution requirements. It adds oxygen to the fuel that reduces emissions.
The alternative, MTBE(?), was found to end up excessively in natural bodies of water.

[onewhippedpuppy]

It was a politically driven lie from the farm lobby. Burn in hell ethanol, free up the money to support REALISTIC alternative energy solutions.

[Joe Bob]

Originally Posted by Jim Sims

Ethanol is likely to remain blended in gasoline no matter what happens to subsidies due to air pollution requirements. It adds oxygen to the fuel that reduces emissions.
The alternative, MTBE(?), was found to end up excessively in natural bodies of water.

Gee, wetted exhaust thru the prop on outboards? Go figure.....

[BRPORSCHE]

Originally Posted by 1968Cayman

That's good news for the moment but they've still got to figure out the next alternative fuel.

They already have...shameless plug...

http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/news_features_20080123_electrovaya.aspx

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

They already have...shameless plug...

http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/news_features_20080123_electrovaya.aspx

No, that can't be right. We all know that the big bad oil companies are evil and are incapable of developing something beneficial, and they don't spend enough on research and development.
The media and the democrats told us so.

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I'm afraid you are right...Oregon's Governor, with the aid of a lefty state legislature, took $$$$ millions of taxpayer money, put it into buiding an ethanol plant. Then they passed a law making 10% ethanol fuel mandatory for the entire state. The boxcars of corn grown in the midwest arrive at this plant.

Amazing isn't it.

A few years ago, the DEQ oxygenated fuels requirement in the winter for the Portland Metro area came up for renewal. The study DEQ commissioned determiend that oxygenated fuels were NO longer necessary to meet the air quality stanards. When DEQ announced their decision to continue the use of oxygenated fuels, they stated that they knew it was not necessary but felt it was a good thing for the eastern Oregon farmers since they (ed. supposedly) provided the corn to make the ethanol used to oxygenate the fuels.

Oddly, no one protested that it was not DEQ's job to ensure a market for corn farmers.

I have this silly notion that the DEQ mission is to ensure clean air, water and land for our citizens.

Crazy, isn't it?

[livi]

What the heck am I going to mix my drinks with now!?!?

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by livi

What the heck am I going to mix my drinks with now!?!?

Exactly. When I saw the thread title I started to get the shakes.

Ian