Comments on: Columnist on Ethanol: “A Tragedy in 3 Acts”

By: corndog

corndog — Tue, 02 May 2006 13:25:58 +0000

The tragedy is that we have relied on CONSERVATION measures for 30 years, which, due to unintended consequences, have actually exacerbated our oil dependency. Bio-fuels represent REPLACEMENT policy, and it is in this direction our country should go.

I agree with the above poster who says that the nay-saying is dwelling too much on corn. Cellulosic ethanol, bio-diesel, and possibly even methanol and butanol could combine to fuel our future, but only if we DITCH conservation (CAFE) as policy. Flex-fuel vehicles of the future could, with few modifications, use ANY alcohol fuel. I vote that we put them out there as our national policy, and let the market sort out the winner.

By: e30e

e30e — Tue, 02 May 2006 05:34:21 +0000

I guess all those Brazilians driving alll ethanol ran vehicles are a “tragedy”

By: JA

JA — Tue, 02 May 2006 04:37:04 +0000

I have to question this articles validity. One point that stood out in my mind was where he talked about E85 costing more then regular gas at many midwest stations. I have yet to see a single station where that is true and I have traveled all over the midwest in the last few months. I think big oil may be into this guys pockets.

Ethanol may not be the answer to our problems but all signs point to atleast it being able to help the situation a bit until a more effective alternative can be found.

By: Robert Fleming

Robert Fleming — Tue, 02 May 2006 01:34:52 +0000

Mixing just 15-20% ethanol with existing gas supplies would ease fuel shortages, and maybe lower costs. Just about every gas vehicle will run on that mixture. Most new ideas/projects start out inefficient, then gain efficiency in time. We need to do just about anything we can to get off imported oil. We are at the mercy of those who hate us!

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 01 May 2006 17:49:27 +0000

Why is there NO mention on “HEMP�??

By: peter

peter — Mon, 01 May 2006 17:12:55 +0000

I’m sick of how Corn has taken over the ethanol idea. Ask the Swedes, who have a very high portion of E85 vehicles in their country, where ethanol comes from, and they won’t tell you that it comes from corn. If I understand correctly, they get their’s from cellulosic sources, which means repurposing waste from all the paper and other wood related industries in Sweden, not spending money to farm fuel itself.
The articles and editorials are right to a degree, Corn is not energy efficient, Corn does not make sense for America’s (and the world’s) fuel problems. Ethanol, however, is bigger than corn, and if America doesn’t figure out how to get past that, someone else will (who doesn’t have powerful agricultural lobbies).

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 01 May 2006 15:48:30 +0000

“……but it’s too haaaaaard! You make me read toooo much! Where can I get a Yellow t-shirt?”

And he doesn’t even mention the cost to grow the corn to begin with. Congress is getting ready to hand farmers another $2Bil within ‘emergency’ spending for Iraq/Katrina – when farmers had one of the best years ever in 2005 … plus got a fat welfare check two years prior.

j i m

By: pete

pete — Mon, 01 May 2006 15:37:18 +0000

already a long discussion started

http://www.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=337931

good read