Ethanol “Gross Exaggerations”

Proponents (generally investors) say that ethanol is the hope of the future and the answer to energy independence. They say it reduces air pollution, and greenhouse gasses.

They also say that it is economically competitive, and that it is a renewable energy source.

Sounds wonderful doesn’t it? Now let’s apply ‘factual and mathematical’ data to each claim.

Claim 1: Ethanol will provide energy independence!
Reality, there simply isn’t enough land.  

If “all” corn (every stalk) grown in the United States last year were used to produce ethanol (not food, not feed), it would address only 18% of fuel needs for gasoline powered vehicles. If we convert “all” of our current farmland to nothing but corn production we could cover possibly 80% of our need!

Claim 2: Ethanol is economically competitive:
Reality, it is more expensive.

According to a detailed 2005 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, corn-based ethanol costs $2.53 (several times more than it costs to produce a gallon of gasoline.)

What goes into that cost?
1.) You have to plant the corn – plowing and planting requires
     tractors
2.) You have to grow the corn – requires fertilizers and tractors to
     spread it
3.) You have to harvest the corn – requires tractors or harvesters
     to pick the corn
4.) You have to truck the corn to the processing plant – requires
     trucks (and/or trains)
5.) You have to process the corn into ethanol which requires energy
     in the form of electricity and heat

Claim 3: Ethanol will drive gas prices down:
Reality, it increases the price of gasoline.

Adding this more expensive concoction to gasoline raises the price of gasoline. Ethanol is twice as expensive as gasoline in the wholesale market.

Claim 4: Ethanol reduces air pollution:
Reality, it produces more pollutants then gasoline.

A thorough review of a scientific study conducted by Robert Niven found that, when evaporative emissions E10 fuel (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline) total hydrocarbons, non-methane organic compounds, and air toxics emissions increased over conventional gasoline tested alone. With ethanol use there are greater concentrations of photochemical smog and toxic compounds. The bottom line, the pollution is worse for E85 or ethanol-based fuels.

Claim 5: Ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions:
Reality, it produces emissions equal to gasoline use.

Virtually all scientific studies show that the greenhouse gases associated with ethanol are virtually equal to conventional gasoline once we examine the entire life-cycle of the two fuels. Ethanol as part of an anti-global warming policy is what academics refer to as “crazy talk.”

Claim 6: Ethanol helps make gasoline go further:
Reality, it reduces your mileage efficiency.

In a number of tests conducted by various automotive industry publishers and independent labs, it has been ‘validated’ that ethanol actually reduces the miles-per-gallon efficiency of your car by 10% (it lowers the octane rating).

Doing the Math: If your car gets 30 miles per gallon and you drive 600 miles you use 20 gallons of gas. (600 miles divided by 30 mph =20 gallons)

Now if you use E10 (which is 10% ethanol, 90% gasoline), you car will now require 22 gallons of fuel to do the same trip. Considering that E10 costs as much as regular unleaded, what have you saved? The answer is easy . . . nothing!

 

The public has not been told that E-85 is very volatile and quite dangerous . . . instead it is promoted as a clean and renewable "Green" fuel source for the future.  (E-85 is composed of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.)

Danger #1

If you spill one gallon of E-85 and try to wash it away with five gallons of water, you have now created six gallons of highly flammable liquid.

Think about that . . . if a tanker over turns on the highway, your local fire department will have a serious problem on it's hands.  Can you imagine thousands of gallons of explosive E-85 running through the sewers under your home or business.

One such accident did occur this year on U.S. I-95 and the raging fire burned out of control and melted a railroad overpass.

Body shops are required to have special equipment and follow special safety and storage precautions when dealing with vehicles using E-85.  Also special foam fire extinguishers are required.  (Do you have an E-85 vehicle in your garage?)

Danger #2

Many people are now using E-85 in older cars not equipped to burn it thinking that they are somehow benefiting the environment by using it.  CAUTION if your car is not designed to run on E-85 DO NOT USE E-85 your car may catch fire (violently).

Danger #3

E-85 and Ethanol are highly corrosive and cannot be transferred through a pipeline and must be stored in special containers until mixed with gasoline.  Think about what it is doing to the internal components of your car. (gasoline was engineered to be non-corrosive)  Think about a neighbor who may be storing a couple of gallons of E-85 in his garage.  How close is his house to yours?

Danger #4

Boats and personal water craft that now use E-85 leak some amount of the fuel into our lakes and rivers . . . See Danger #1.  and remember Cleveland Ohio's Cuyahoga River that actually caught fire in 1969 due to industrial pollutants.  Do we want that?

Danger #5

Health: New medical studies indicate that fuels like E-85 and Ethanol appear to contribute negatively (a higher risk) to individuals with or a pre-disposition toward respiratory ailments such as asthma.

So why are we being told it's safe?  Easy answer . . . there's not much profit in the word "dangerous."