Re: Gas Prices/Alcohol as a solution

From: MV (MV@dc9.tzo.com)
Date: Fri Apr 28 2006 - 12:06:39 PDT


Sorry Sonny,

I was listening to the radio yesterday while driving and they had a guy
on who has done a lot of analysis of Alcohol as a motor fuel also. He
basically said that Alcohol really isn't a solution either. The energy
balance equation just doesn't work - ie amount of energy to produce
alcohol vs the amount of energy obtained from alcohol doesn't work.

He also said that if we decided to go all alcohol - and skip petro (if
this was in fact possible) we would have to convert 70% all of the
farmland in the US to raising corn. And then we would have to import
corn to feed us. His solution was to forget about Alcohol other than as
an additive to get rid of that MTBE stuff that used to be added as an
anti-knock agent, but is now being phased out.

So Sonny, I'm sorry to tell you that you are simply more screwed than
you first thought. (:-<)

Unfortunately, you are not alone.

Dave

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sonny Heath wrote:
> Leave my hero alone, will ya?
>
> Sonny
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "MV" <
MV@dc9.tzo.com>
> To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 12:56 PM
> Subject: Re: [MV] Gas Prices/Alcohol as a solution
>
>
>>
>> The idea of using ethanol as a substitute for oil should be looked at
>> carefully. I have heard many times that the amount of energy
>> necessary to produce alcohol exceeded the energy value obtained from
>> the same amount of alcohol. I do a lot of work with a major
>> distillery and they go through a tremendous amount of coal to produce
>> ethanol for beverages. And that is after the corn and grain has been
>> planted, fertilized, harvested, and then transported to the distillery
>> - all of which consume plain diesel fuel (tractor and truck fuel) and
>> natural gas (fertilizer). They really don't care though (to some
>> extent) since coal is fairly cheap and they get big bucks for a gallon
>> of beverage alcohol. The quality standards are a lot higher than
>> vehicle alcohol.
>>
>> Take a look at this:
>>
>> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050329132436.htm
>>
>> Several different people have come to similar conclusions. Do a web
>> search - this is nothing new.
>>
>> Indiana is pushing biofuels really hard right now. I have heard that
>> the break-even price for making ethanol from corn is $2.90/gallon with
>> government subsidies. Gee, what is gas going for now?? But Indiana
>> also grows a lot of corn and soybeans - so you should not be surprised
>> that governor Mitch (got a highway to sell) Daniels is pushing that.
>>
>> We have a huge amount of coal in this country - 250 years worth the
>> last I heard. I think it is time we start using some of those
>> resources to produce petro products.
>>
>> Of course if we start doing that I'm sure that George got-gas? Bush,
>> and Dick - I got a gun - Cheney will put Exxon on the job so they can
>> make sure that we pay the proper price. Perhaps Haliburton can help
>> also?
>>
>> Sooner or later we are going to have to electn some politicians that
>> do what is good for the people - not what is good for big oil, corn
>> growers, auto companies, Saudi Arabia, Casino operators, etc. Until
>> then - we are our own worst enemy.
>>
>> We are operating under the golden rule now- those that have the gold,
>> rule.
>>
>> Dave
>> With a thirsty M-51 gasser with empty tanks. (:-<)
>>
>>
>> ===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
>> To unsubscribe, send e-mail to <mil-veh-off@mil-veh.org>
>> To reach a human, contact <ackyle@gmail.com>
>> Visit the searchable archives at http://www.mil-veh.org/archives/
>>
>>
>> --
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>> Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.5/321 - Release Date: 4/21/2006
>>
>>
>
>
> ===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
> To unsubscribe, send e-mail to <mil-veh-off@mil-veh.org>
> To reach a human, contact <ackyle@gmail.com>
> Visit the searchable archives at http://www.mil-veh.org/archives/
>



This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Tue Jul 18 2006 - 21:44:11 PDT