I have a lot of respect for farmers. But, ethanol is welfare for farmers.
There is a “Racetrack” gas station about 10 miles from me that sells ethanol-free gas, so that’s all I use in my yard equipment now. The corn-based stuff has ruined at least two of my past 2-cycle trimmers.
I just go over there and fill up my 5-gallon container and I’m set for a good while.
Honest question: has anyone done an analysis of the whole ethanol game and what were the conclusions? For example, can they show that “pollution” was reduced by x percentage after implementation of the ethanol mandate?
One thing about government — they are never held to account if their promises never come true and we are stuck with the crap law forever. Same goes with gun laws. Promise are made if we just pass this law or that law and no one ever checks after the fact to see if the promises came true.
“In reality, over their full life cycle (from planting and harvesting crops, to converting them to fuel, to transporting them by truck, to blending and burning them), biofuels emit at least as much CO2 as their petroleum counterparts.”
Dirty little truth (same with hydrogen). One of many in the article.
It’s not just farmer welfare, but corporate farmer and selected business enrichment. Many have gotten dirty rich from their ethanol start-ups, due only to our tax $$$$$$$ subsidizing them.
A little history.
This all presented as an energy issue. Can’t disagree with some of the arguements.
I remember one propaganda when started. Local radio station put two vehicles on a race track, ran them at 35 mph and both got the same mileage. If they would have run than on hills and loads and higher speeds the results would have been much different. If in town, I run e85 in my van, and it works which I do. I do think it might help pollution in larger cities also. But the problem is central govt which is a one size fits all......................
Butanol would have many advantages over ethanol, if we insist on adding corn to our fuel.
Ethanol is evil.
I have a friend who owns a landscaping business. She pays the exorbitant price for E-Zero gas for all her small engines. She figured out the extra being paid was less than paying small engine repair shops to fix her engines. Machine downtime is very expensive for her.
Ethanol and windmills. Fantastic ideas to bilk the taxpayer in favor of rentseeking cronies and swampdwellers.
History lesson continued.
Again presented and argued as energy issue. It is a food issue also. We have a long history of government role in food. (yes, I understand much mission creep) At one time we had a 3 year reserve of grain as a national security issue. BUT this was expensive. NOW, if we don’t use the last bushel of last years crop the day before the new crop comes in, we screwed up. DOES THIS WORRY ANYONE?
Back to expensive. It was decided by government this was too expensive and this flooded the market with cheap grain. Thus back when grain was cheap,fuel expensive, and international situation uncertain, this was a GOOD IDEA.
It is more complicated than this I know, but I hope people will get the gist of systems, not just the one point that it ruins their lawn mower.
Doesn’t look good for Pacific Ethanol (and heavily invested in by Dims), stock ticker PEIX.
https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/ethanol-keeps-adm-drunk-tax-dollars
I disagree with Trump on this issue since he is for it. Hey, when you enjoy a fish dinner you don’t bitch about finding a bone! But I do think he should change his mind on this issue.
Just found a local Wawa in the Lehigh Valley, Pa. sells ethanol-free gas. Regular gas-$2.99/gal., Ef-$3.45/gal..
Gore’s stealth plan to control population growth thru mass starvation.