<VV> RE: Ethanol? filter problems? (HUH?)

[RoboMan91324 at aol.com]

Not that I don't mind making oil companies or OPEC unhappy but ethanol is not 
cheaper than gasoline.  When it takes the approximate energy equivalent of 
1.5 - 1.7 gallons of gasoline to take corn, sugar beets or whatever from the 
ground to the end product, how is that less expensive?  I am not certain that 1.5 
- 1.7 is the real range but estimates are close to that.  The only reason 
that the ethanol is in any way viewed as cheaper than gas is because of 
governmental subsidies.  These subsidies are paid for by you and I through our taxes.  
In effect, we will be paying more at the end of the day one way or the other 
for fuel.  Those who benefit, as always, are the politicians who are posing as 
"doing something" to alleviate the energy problem.  They are more than happy 
to pick our pockets to make themselves look like heroes.  Of course, the 
farmers benefit as well but why should one group of people suffer for another just 
because they have a strong lobby?  (I know, it happens all the time.)  The 
bottom line is that production of ethanol is a net energy drain not gain.

I suppose that a case can be made for using "cheap" electrical energy to 
produce ethanol.  This would need to be either hydro or nuclear if there is 
surplus.  However, the vast majority of electrical energy production in the USA is 
generated through the use of fossil fuels.  This is especially the case in 
those states that are major corn producers (the plains states) where hydro is not 
a big option for the most part.  These are the states that are lobbying for 
these issues.

The public at large is being duped when they are told that these supposed 
"renewable resources" are the answer to our problems.  These sort of political 
con games lull the uniformed into a false sense of security and divert attention 
and resources from real solutions.

The last part is JMHO (Just My Humble Opinion) but the rest of it is just 
plain Physics.

Doc
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In a message dated 6/17/2005 9:35:39 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
virtualvairs-request at corvair.org writes:

> Message: 8
> Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 11:27:58 -0500
> From: "werp knarly" <werpknarly at centurytel.net>
> Subject: Re: <VV> RE: Ethanol? filter problems?
> To: <mopar at jbcs2.net>, <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
> Message-ID: <027901c57359$876dc9d0$bad3fea9 at S0029301453>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>     reply-type=original
> 
> yes we may have to deal with the "crud" left in our fuel systems from 
> burning crude oil based fuel... but should ethanol be blamed for cleaning up what 
> gasoline left behind?
> 
> and yes the farmers will be happy,, but best of all...
> 
> the oil companies and the mid east countries wont be happy
> 
> btw, today ethanol is cheaper than gasoline.  and even if it is a bit more 
> money per mile driven,,,, the oil companies and the mid east countries wont be 
> happy
> 
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Joe,