http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=9436
If you are not aware of the background in the sudden surge of bio-ethanal perhaps a small review is in order. Due to rising costs of gasoline and the fact that the majority of our supply comes from a part of the world void of any type of stability either politically, economically or religiously; we have been trying to wean ourselves and ultimately our nation from such dependence on foriegn oil. One fabled savior is that of renewable, self grown commodities. In our case; corn. Corn is used now more so as a vehicle for fuel development than that of a food product. This was in large part due to a Government backed endorsement (and, coincdentally, reduced fuel consumption mandates for those vehicles that are "duel fuel" ready) and the whole romanticized Americana day dream of an all American chain of supply. American farmers (who already receive ridiculous, outdated and damaging subsidies on their crops) grow our fuel so that hard working blue collar American factory workers produce our cars so that Americans can drive to the store and purchase goods!
Goods, more than likely, made in China. But I digress.
The fact that Corn has gone from a food product to a fuel source not only affects us at home, but it has also had a negative effect on persons such as those in Mexico. For whom Corn is a staple of food more so than here in America due to their consumption of the delicious, nutritious and edible food plate that is the tortilla. Producers in Mexico of corn have started to plant more of it, but it is now for export to us here so that we can turn it into a fuel with less energy per pound than gasoline, and with an increase in N2O emissions. Nevermind the fact that the process to produce such a fuel from Corn is more so environmentally damaging than that of turning the traditional fossil fuel into Petrol. In addition to this obvious one sided growth spurt of Corn, those vehicles that either run entirely off of biofuel or off of both traditional dino Petrol and biofuel, are exempt from the normal Government mandated mile per gallon standards. So Ford can continue to produce outdated, unneeded gigantic Trucks that don't meet fuel standards for 1987, let alone 2007, can tweak their engines to run both kinds of fuel (which is quite easy) and be exempt from the already existing miles per gallon standard. Yay. It is a circle of inefficient, jingoistic self deprecating patriotism consisting of a lot of smoke and mirrors to make ourselves feel better.
Think about it.
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I am not too familiar with the whole idea of bio fuels. But from my understanding it is supposed to be more enviroment friendly than normal foosil fueles. Since the United states grows corn it should theoretically cut costs of gas and increase our Grodd domestic product. As some gassoline stations already have "10 percetn ethanol" in them, nonetheless prices are still $3-$4 a gallon. We have plenty of corn and it still remain to be used for consuming and fuel burning. I do belive that more study should be done on this. I mean how do we know for sure that ethanol is much better for the environment and for the person. Will car performance increase or decrease? And Will long term wear and tear on the car be worseor better. If worse it may be much more negative because mroe car parts will be needed to produce. I for one think that ethanol should be placed on more research on what impact it will have on the long run. If a success it may make us more indipendant from Opec and foreign oil companies.
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