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For First Time, E.P.A. Proposes Reducing Ethanol Requirement for Gas Mix
New York Times ^ | November 15, 2013 | By Matthew L. Wald

Posted on 11/16/2013 2:38:55 AM PST by Brad from Tennessee

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday proposed reducing the amount of ethanol that is required to be mixed with the gasoline supply, the first time it has taken steps to slow down the drive to replace fossil fuels with renewable forms of energy.

The move was expected, but it drew bitter complaints from advocates of ethanol, including some environmentalists, who see the corn-based fuel blend as a weapon to fight climate change. It was also unwelcome news to farmers, who noted that the decision came at a time when a record corn crop is expected, and the price of a bushel has fallen almost to the cost of production.

“We’re all just sort of scratching our heads here today and wondering why this administration is telling us to burn less of a clean-burning American fuel,” said Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------snip-------------------------------------------------

Charles Drevna, president of the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, said that the ethanol interests were relying on “a continual government program that is an anachronism in 2013, that is seriously flawed, that puts consumers at risk, that consumers don’t want.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: energy; ethanol; gasoline
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Maybe some of these ethanol plants can be converted to liquor distilleries.
1 posted on 11/16/2013 2:38:55 AM PST by Brad from Tennessee
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To: Brad from Tennessee

If you look at the booming whiskey business in China....it’d be a serious mistake not to convert one or two of these over to the liquor industry. Jack Daniels could probably deliver a dozen tractor-trailers of it’s prime stuff to China daily....and still never get to a peak.


2 posted on 11/16/2013 2:55:08 AM PST by pepsionice
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To: Brad from Tennessee

They wouldn’t let Bush do it.

There is an old Vulcan. Saying “ only Nixon can go to China”

But I don’t see it happening with the ONE.


3 posted on 11/16/2013 2:57:39 AM PST by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

4 posted on 11/16/2013 3:26:59 AM PST by Carriage Hill (Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands around reloading.)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

This can only mean the EPA will soon be dropping something on us very onerous, so lessening ethanol now to soften the blow.


5 posted on 11/16/2013 3:38:51 AM PST by C210N (When people fear government there is tyranny; when government fears people there is liberty)
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To: pepsionice

We should look to sell other in-demand products to China as well... for instance, Plan B One Step, and Mylie Cyrus.


6 posted on 11/16/2013 3:41:16 AM PST by Rodamala
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To: Brad from Tennessee

Gov agencies are now little independent thiefdoms allowed to cause havoc on the American public with direction from up above. They are all civil servants that work for us. The employers are now the employees


7 posted on 11/16/2013 3:44:25 AM PST by ronnie raygun
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To: Brad from Tennessee
Charles Drevna, president of the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, said that the ethanol interests were relying on “a continual government program that is an anachronism in 2013, that is seriously flawed, that puts consumers at risk, that consumers don’t want.”

Absolutely. This was one of W's Big Government scams that also enriched Big Agriculture. It's a terrible deal for regular Americans.

8 posted on 11/16/2013 3:46:05 AM PST by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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To: ronnie raygun
Gov agencies are now little independent thiefdoms allowed to cause havoc on the American public with direction from up above.

And most federal agencies now have their own police forces thanks to the previous administration.

9 posted on 11/16/2013 3:47:46 AM PST by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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To: pepsionice

“We’re all just sort of scratching our heads here today and wondering why this administration is telling us to burn less of a clean-burning American fuel,” said Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association.
Political a$$ kiss programs designed to win votes and placate groups that would otherwise vote for the good of the country.
This makes you wonder just how some of these people vote.


10 posted on 11/16/2013 3:56:07 AM PST by Recompennation (Constitutional protection for all not just selectively for Democrats.)
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To: ronnie raygun

They’ve twisted public service into, Public? Serve Us!


11 posted on 11/16/2013 4:09:50 AM PST by rawcatslyentist (Jeremiah 50:32 "The arrogant one will stumble and fall ; / ?)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

This makes too much sense for the EPA. Something eviMl must be at play.

Mandated ethanol for fuel was and remains a terrible idea. Try explaining to a six year old that the government mandate has farmers growing food for fuel, increasing the price of food, when we have more than enough natural resources at better pricing.


12 posted on 11/16/2013 4:30:37 AM PST by Fzob (Jesus + anything = nothing, Jesus + nothing = everything)
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To: Fzob
This makes too much sense for the EPA. Something evil must be at play.

Any other entity we would appauld this as a sound fiscal and consumers friendly proposal...

But like you said, this is the EPA and only beholden to the executive branch...since Nixon created it by an EO...

Someone evil is afoot...

Probably a shiny distraction...

13 posted on 11/16/2013 4:44:04 AM PST by Popman
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To: Brad from Tennessee

The requirement was set to increase beyond 10%, which would have meant massive car repair costs nationwide. They’re merely not implementing a scheduled increase rather than reducing the existing 10% requirement. That’s a pity - the GOP could have capitalized on the issue to crap all over the Democrats.


14 posted on 11/16/2013 5:09:18 AM PST by Zhang Fei (Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

It is very foolish to burn food for fuel when something that cannot be eaten could be burned instead. Moreover, ethanol mandates have the effect of tying the price of food crops to the world price of oil and thus to energy.

Lastly, about 20 years ago I recall being scolded by liberals over how much farmland was being lost to soil erosion. Because of ethanol and biofuel subsidies, we have plowed up and planted millions of acres of marginal land that is now subject to erosion exposure.

(Similarly, I recall some years ago being scolded by liberals about the number of song birds that were killed by flying into cell towers at night. But today, not a single liberal expresses concern over the bird deaths caused by wing power turbines.)

Liberals would just be pitiful except for the real damage they do to the ecology, the economy and to liberty.


15 posted on 11/16/2013 5:14:59 AM PST by theBuckwheat
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To: Brad from Tennessee
...a record corn crop is expected, and the price of a bushel has fallen almost to the cost of production...

But wait, I've been assured by FReepers that the small corn crop is a disaster and people can't afford to eat!

And all ethanol plants make drinkable alcohol. Additives make it non-consumable.

16 posted on 11/16/2013 5:46:53 AM PST by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: Brad from Tennessee

I smell a RAT
ADM contributes too much to the coffers to allow this


17 posted on 11/16/2013 6:17:17 AM PST by bestintxas (Obamacare = Obamascrew)
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To: jjotto
And all ethanol plants make drinkable alcohol.

Drinkable is not the same as being a food-grade process system of cleanliness and purity.

There is more to ethanol used for human consumption than not being denatured.

18 posted on 11/16/2013 6:21:02 AM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: thackney
“Drinkable is not the same as being a food-grade process system of cleanliness and purity.”

Drove a couple of loads of corn to the ethanol plant for a friend last year. Farmers get rid of corn that they would not be able to sell for food by selling it for alcohol. I never saw so many dead rats, coon crap, and dead bugs in a load.

19 posted on 11/16/2013 6:43:47 AM PST by CrazyIvan (Obama phones= Bread and circuits.)
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To: Brad from Tennessee
I saw an article somewhere (FR?) recently that farmers are plowing up poor soil and hilly areas and are putting in corn. Now they are seeing a lot of erosion.

Here's an article I found just now.

Where there used to be grass, now there are gulleys and mud. Another example of government causing questionable rapid changes based on lack of thought.

http://www.journal-news.com/ap/ap/agriculture/the-secret-dirty-cost-of-obamas-green-power-push/p2hJ2/

20 posted on 11/16/2013 8:23:47 AM PST by Right Wing Assault (What happened to my tagline??)
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