Top Ten Facts about Ethanol

[tkcomer]

Here is my gripe. For years big oil has said there is no reason to make alcohol for fuel because they can make gasoline for a lot less. Guess what? We have a plant in Kentucky that makes ethanol for around $1.60 a gallon. But, the plant says they have a hard time selling it because big oil won’t buy it. Since big oil doesn’t own the alcohol production plants, and can’t make a profit off of the production, they won’t use it unless mandated. A lot of cars and trucks are on the road that can burn M85 fuel. I own two vehicles that can burn it. But nowhere to buy that fuel, courtesy of big oil.

 

[Builder]

We need new companies to compete with big oil at the pump. What about Con-Agra, ADM, etc.? Aren't they getting into it? Why can't they open ethanol pump stations?

I have no idea since I live on the east coast-very little ethanol or bio-diesel out here.

 

[Egon]

Anybody recall "Thunder Road"

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[slowrev]

Anyone know how much it costs energy wise to produce 1 gal of gasoline ? Drill, pump, haul, refine.....

 

[Builder]

Exactly!

One would think farming corn to produce the ingredients for ethanol to be far less expensive & risky than setting up oil platforms in the North Sea to produce crude for gasoline.

 

[slowrev]

It is pretty much about cost per gallon, not energy to produce one gallon. cost is energy to a certain degree.

Ben

 

[tjkadar]

I believe we can find a better raw material for ethanol production then corn. Corn is right on the edge as far as actually taking more energy to produce ethanol then what you get out of it. Plus, I don't like the decrease in gas mileage from ethanol flavored gasoline.

Ethanol can be an alternative, but I believe we need to do more research into which plants would best serve as a raw material.

 

[cowboydoc]

I'm involved in two ethanol plants and one biodiesel plant. Yes you can call me biased. However, I'll give your our latest reports that go to the government. Ethanol gets a VERY bad rap because nobody in the oil business wants to admit it's a very viable alternative. Our last production records for last quarter we had nearly a 50,000 btu POSITIVE energy production differential. We are now producing almost 3.0 gallons of ethanol for every bushel of corn produced.

Also what the critics fail to mention is that EVERY part of the corn in ethanol production is used. There is no waster and there is no pollution. That part is ridiculous. 62% of the original corn is used as a high protein feed for cattle. The other parts are used as food additives and ice melting product. I don't want to argue with anyone but those are the facts at a real operating ethanol plant and not #'s made up to try and reach political agendas.

 

[db2]

Google "Ethanol in Brazil" Lots of interesting links come up. Our energy cost problem won't go away as long as we continue to consume at the current rate. Same scenario exists for any product that is in demand.

Good link: Ethanol..... some Facts

 

[Egon]

62% of the original corn is used as a high protein feed for cattle

This sure beats some of the other cattle feed sources on the market! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon