A new study getting a lot of press says that ethanol is actually worse for the environment than gasoline. A lot of experts have been saying just that for years.
Seems a lot of people get sucked into an “anything but oil” mentality. I too look forward to the day when we have a cleaner, cheaper energy source. But we’ve known for years that ethanol isn’t it. It only has 2/3 the btu’s of gasoline, so it only gives 2/3 the mileage. Emissions are roughly the same. Now we know that the manufacturing process causes more emissions than oil’s. Oh, and it’s more expensive, too. Not a good deal.
Strange that ethanol still commands widespread support. I can think of two reasons: politics (farm state politicians courting votes), and the anything-but-oil mindset.
I’ve sensed the tide turning against ethanol in the last year or so, ever since it started making food prices go up. This study only adds to the trend. Maybe soon companies can pour their R&D resources toward a more useful end.
Seems a lot of people get sucked into an “anything but oil” mentality. I too look forward to the day when we have a cleaner, cheaper energy source. But we’ve known for years that ethanol isn’t it. It only has 2/3 the btu’s of gasoline, so it only gives 2/3 the mileage. Emissions are roughly the same. Now we know that the manufacturing process causes more emissions than oil’s. Oh, and it’s more expensive, too. Not a good deal.
Strange that ethanol still commands widespread support. I can think of two reasons: politics (farm state politicians courting votes), and the anything-but-oil mindset.
I’ve sensed the tide turning against ethanol in the last year or so, ever since it started making food prices go up. This study only adds to the trend. Maybe soon companies can pour their R&D resources toward a more useful end.
Inertia Wins! 