Cape Karen
Photo: Henry Ford designed his Model A to run on ethanol in the 1930's. (Seems he was way ahead of his time.)
A old movement is afoot; a movement to turn our midwestern corn fields into fuel-producing factories. If you look around states like WI, MN, and IA, you will find that they all have lofty plans in the works for using what President Bush says is "the best resource available" to produce an atmosphere-friendly fuel . . . CORN! (As a Kellogg, with the nickname, "Cornflake," my ears perked right up!)
When the President and his cronies begin to invest millions into Iowa cornfields, then I'll believe it; in reality, they're more likely to be investing in coal than corn, because it's going to take a whole lot of coal to turn those corn stalks into ethanol.
Wet method or dry method? That is the question. And, how to transport the ethanol to the eastern states? Ethanol, unlike MTBE and MTBE-blended gasoline, can't be transported by pipeline. It has to be moved and stored separately from the base gasoline mixture to which it is added just before delivery to retail stations. This is a a huge change for an industry that has long relied on pipelines to supplement local gasoline production and imports. (Can you say, "big price increases?")
Also, in order to produce this 'clean air' fuel, they'll have to burn tons of coal. . . which, of course, will pollute the air. That makes a lotta sense to me! Use dirty fossil fuel to make clean plant fuel. "They'll figure out a way to force that acidic, CO2 and methane-producing coal residue right back into the earth," says he. Well. . . there goes the well!
And, remember last September after Katrina? "Brownie, you're doing one heck of a great job here!" So, when my President tells me that plant-based ethanol is going to solve our dirty air problems, beef-up the economy, and ultimately benefit all mankind. . . of course I believe him. (Don't you?)
According to those who study such matters, it will take a lot more energy to produce the ethanol than the energy ethanol will produce. ( "How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?") Same thing.
"David Pimental, a leading Cornell University agricultural expert, has calculated that powering the average U.S. automobile for one year on ethanol (85% blend) derived from corn would require 11 acres of farmland, the same space needed to grow a year's supply of food for seven people. Adding up the energy costs of corn production and its conversion into ethanol, 131,000 BTUs are needed to make one gallon of ethanol. One gallon of ethanol has an energy value of only 77,000 BTUS. Thus, 70 percent more energy is required to produce ethanol than the energy that actually is in it. Every time you make one gallon of ethanol, there is a net energy loss of 54,000 BTUs."
If they do start pumping-up the pumps with 85% ethanol, instead of the puny 10% blend that's now widely available, we'll all want to trade-in our beloved, fossil-fuel-gorging SUV's for these new, pricey FFV's (flexible fuel vehicles...sometimes called AFV's... alternative fuel vehicles) The car manufacturer's are already shivering with excitement as these new, higher-grade, ethanol blended fuels catch on. "Refueling with P-Series is as quick and familiar as with gasoline, but P-Series fuel is not gasoline and cannot be used in a regular gasoline car."
Perhaps you already own one of these vehicles that run on 'organic' fuel? If so, it sounds like you are ahead of the times. . . and probably well-heeled. Our local trolley's, that travel from town-to-town here in the Great Smoggy Mountains, are AFV's now - electric-run vehicles. Too bad 99% of all the other 15 million visitors are still arriving driving those "old-fashioned" gas guzzling, CO2 spewing vehicles. (Cough-cough.. . a-choo!)
To read more about it you can click on these links:
http://www.iags.org/pseries.htm
http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/vbg/
It all sounds soooo good ~ clean-air fuel! But. . . I know your daddy told you, like my daddy told me, that if it sounds too good to be true. . . then it probably is ~ so, you'd better keep your "ear" to the ground on this one. The sudden 'rush to produce' came mostly after the State of the Union Address~ and that scares me right down to my toenails. I can just picture all those outstretched palms and 'pats on the back' up there on the Hill after the big speech. (Sorry - but these days, it seems being cynical and/or skeptical, about anything that comes out of Washington, is simply necessary for our mere survival.. . . and that's really sad!) I would love to see us all driving environmentally-friendly vehicles, but when D.C. gets into the game, well, it makes me a little nervous about the future costs of these new alternative fuels.
Those in the Billionaire's Club, Bill Gates included, are investing in corn-based and other plant-based alternative fuel productions~ so, if you're not a billionaire but you want "in" on these futuristic fuels, you might want to find some land and start growing a few acres of corn. Then, if you're so inclined, you can make your own ethanol fuel right at home! Ethanol stills, with all the necessary hoses and other equipment included in the 'kit,' are now being sold on the web. . . (I'm not telling where.)
Just don't drink the damn stuff - it'll kill you dead.
As for me, I'll have to stick with having a delicious corn dog at the Minnesota State Fair, when I can get there. That is. . . if there's any corn left for something as silly as food production.