cast4bass
Well-known member
It is time to put a stop to this madness for the sake of all us that love boating. EPA is considering mandating 15% Ethanol standard. Every administration bows to the corn lobby. I say put a stop to it! Ethanol is the most wasteful use of resources and it decreases fuel efficiency. So why do all politicians support this - because the primaries start out in the corn belt and they love to bow to the corn lobby. Boat US is fighting this but cannot do it alone. Everyone should write / email Congress before it is too late!
Some Facts
All of today's gasoline-burning cars and trucks can use a blend of 10 percent ethanol (known as E10) more or less without any engine modifications. However, E10 can cause an increase in smog-forming pollution relative to conventional gasoline.
Most analyses conducted before 2008 indicate that corn ethanol delivers a 10 to 20 percent reduction in global warming emissions over its lifecycle compared with gasoline, but these analyses did not include land use changes. The reduction is modest because corn production requires a significant amount of fossil fuel inputs for farm operations, processing and distilling, and fertilizer production (generally natural gas). Fertilizers used for corn production also generate a substantial amount of nitrous oxide, a potent global warming pollutant, as unused fertilizer breaks down in the field. In addition, many corn ethanol production facilities operate on natural gas; if new production facilities use coal instead, the emission benefits of corn ethanol could be reduced or eliminated.
Ethanol plants are closing across the country and some ethanol producers are declaring bankruptcy. The appeal will require the Obama administration to decide whether to increase federal support for the industry, which has already benefited from an array of subsidies, tax credits and Congressional production mandates.
“Approving the use of ethanol blends up to 15 percent is a necessary and positive step,” said Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, an industry lobbying group, “to ensure the full potential of a robust domestic ethanol industry.” From NY Times
Bottom line - Ethanol to 15% still needs government subsidies and backing to work. So the taxpayers underwrite an industry that benefits several investors and farmers at our expense.
What is wrong with Natural Gas? I like T Boone Pickens idea to convert the trucking industry to Natural Gas which is plentiful and does not create new land use issues and re-direct food sources.
Any thoughts?
Some Facts
All of today's gasoline-burning cars and trucks can use a blend of 10 percent ethanol (known as E10) more or less without any engine modifications. However, E10 can cause an increase in smog-forming pollution relative to conventional gasoline.
Most analyses conducted before 2008 indicate that corn ethanol delivers a 10 to 20 percent reduction in global warming emissions over its lifecycle compared with gasoline, but these analyses did not include land use changes. The reduction is modest because corn production requires a significant amount of fossil fuel inputs for farm operations, processing and distilling, and fertilizer production (generally natural gas). Fertilizers used for corn production also generate a substantial amount of nitrous oxide, a potent global warming pollutant, as unused fertilizer breaks down in the field. In addition, many corn ethanol production facilities operate on natural gas; if new production facilities use coal instead, the emission benefits of corn ethanol could be reduced or eliminated.
Ethanol plants are closing across the country and some ethanol producers are declaring bankruptcy. The appeal will require the Obama administration to decide whether to increase federal support for the industry, which has already benefited from an array of subsidies, tax credits and Congressional production mandates.
“Approving the use of ethanol blends up to 15 percent is a necessary and positive step,” said Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, an industry lobbying group, “to ensure the full potential of a robust domestic ethanol industry.” From NY Times
Bottom line - Ethanol to 15% still needs government subsidies and backing to work. So the taxpayers underwrite an industry that benefits several investors and farmers at our expense.
What is wrong with Natural Gas? I like T Boone Pickens idea to convert the trucking industry to Natural Gas which is plentiful and does not create new land use issues and re-direct food sources.
Any thoughts?
