Stop Foolish Ethanol Mandates

Townhall.com ^ | August 24, 2013 | Ken Blackwell

[Kaslin]

The problems continue at President Obama's Environmental Protection Agency. Under fire for their leadership using private email addresses to illegally conduct official business and enacting new regulations through coordinated lawsuit settlements with outside environmental groups, the EPA shows no sign of slowing down in Obama's second term.

Last month, in an attempt to deflect attention from scandals at the IRS, the NSA and the embassy in Benghazi, the Administration has turned its attention to the issue of climate change.

At the center of their new environmental policies is the EPA's Renewable Renewable Fuel Standards, which mandates the use of ethanol and biofuels in the production of gasoline. This a prime example of misguided government regulation, as it punishes companies to use a type of hybrid fuel - known as cellulosic biofuel - which does not yet exist on the commercial market. In addition, drives up prices at the gas station for consumers (10 cents/gallon in 2011), while simultaneously driving up cost of food.

Record-high corn prices have also led to increased pressure on other grains such as wheat and soy - both of which have jumped in prices and are found in animal feed and numerous food products. Experts at the agriculture investment house Rabobank estimate there will be a historic 14% jump in overall food prices in the next year. As our economy recovers, this is the last thing struggling families should have to endure.

In 2012, during the worst drought for farmers in 50 years, the RFS diverted more than 50% our nation's corn supply into ethanol production. As corn is part of many foods you and I enjoy every day, even many left-wing global hunger advocates are opposed to the use of corn in fuel. Destroying food to be used in inefficient forms of fuel is bad policy with serious repercussions.

In June 2012, three senators - John Barrasso (R - Wyoming), Mark Pryor (D - Arkansas), and Pat Toomey (R - Pennsylvania) launched a bipartisan effort to get rid of renewable fuel standards entirely. According to Sen. Barrasso, "The Renewable Fuel Standard is fundamentally broken and beyond repair. Instead of delivering meaningful environmental benefits, it's driven up food and fuel costs for American families. This flawed program will also inevitably lead to widespread lawsuits against American manufacturers. When Congress enacts bad policy, the right response is to scrap it and start over."

It is clear that these fuel standards aren't working for consumers or refiners. Policy makers should focus on building more oil refineries and approving things such as the Keystone XL pipeline to transport tar sands oil from Canada into our country. The Renewable Fuel Standard should be repealed.

[Kaslin]

Thanks

[Balding_Eagle]

It seems unethical to use food for fuel when children are starving all over the world!

For more than 50 years the American Farmer has shown the entire world how to grow so much food that there are mountains and mountains of surplus food.

We've had surplus food stuffs, especially corn, but also enormous amounts of meats every year for more than 50 years. We have so much surplus we can BURN our food to heat our homes, fuel our vehicles, export large amounts, and still have too much.

Our methods are open for all the world to see, they could copy us at anytime.

They refuse to do so.

There is a price for stubbornness and stupidity, in this case it's called starvation.

Let the bastards starve to death, while we burn our food.

Written by a retired farmer.

[HereInTheHeartland]

” I lost a lawnmower this past year to E10 (unlabeled at the pump the day I filled the 5 gallon can.) “

What happened to it?

[generally]

Hear, hear.

I agree entirely. Great point about the spy vehicle, too.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

I lost a lawnmower this past year to E10

Did you ever find it?

[Smokin' Joe]

It died. At the price of a new mower it was cheaper to replace than fix.

[epow]

It died. At the price of a new mower it was cheaper to replace than fix.

Same thing happened to my string trimmer when I began using it last summer. The 87 octane 10% ethanol/gas mixture I had used in it for the last 3 or 4 summers had ruined the carburetor and the price of replacing the carb made it more practical to just buy a new trimmer. Now I pay $.90 per gallon more for ethanol-free gas, but it should save me money in the long run if it prolongs the life of my new (almost) Echo trimmer.

[TexasCajun]

Thanks, but I was really playing on liberals whose causes are always directed to the poor chil'ren of the world.

Yet, they would rather try to save the planet with biofuel than demand those crops be used to feed those children.

I say Drill Baby Drill!

I would be interested in any first hand info on taxpayer funded biofuel subsidizes.

[Sixpackplymouth]

Carburetor rebuild kits for small engines run about $5 at the local saw shop.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Yes it is. Alcohol-free gasoline is better for all engines. Adding alcohol increases chamber temp and air pollutants created plus it decreases mileage.

[epow]

Carburetor kits may cost about $5 as you said, but shop labor is quite high, at least it is in this area. 3 years ago the carb on my 14 year old 16” Husky chain saw needed to be rebuilt, the the starting cord mechanism needed to be replaced, and the chain brake and sprocket were worn out. The local repair shop that sells Husky saws gave me an estimate of $150. Needless to say I bought a new saw, an Echo that has an excellent rating on several websites that claim to be neutral in their ratings of brand name saws. I put countless hours of hard use on the old Husky by cutting down literally hundreds of full grown oak, hickory, black walnut, poplar, and other hardwood trees and then cutting the logs to fireplace length before the Husky needed major repairs. So my personal rating of Husqvarna saws would be A+, at least as good as my neighbors’ more expensive Stihl. I just hope the Echo is as good, but given my age (76)I won't be using it for nearly as long as I used the Husky, and it cost a few pesos less than a comparable Husky.