Turning Soybeans Into Diesel Fuel Is Costing Us Billions

NPR ^ | January 16, 2018 | Dan Charles

[Governor Dinwiddie]

This year, trucks and other heavy-duty motors in America will burn some 3 billion gallons of diesel fuel that was made from soybean oil. They're doing it, though, not because it's cheaper or better, but because they're required to, by law.

The law is the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS. For some, especially Midwestern farmers, it's the key to creating clean energy from American soil and sun. For others — like many economists — it's a wasteful misuse of resources.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Turning food into motor fuel borders on the sinful, particularly when we in America are blessed with an abundance of real in-the-ground oil deposits.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[grobdriver]

For some, especially Midwestern farmers, it's the key to creating clean energy from American soil and sun

What BS - it's a government subsidy, nothing else.

"Creating clean energy" my eye. Follow the money!

[Red Badger]

Diesel Knock!..................

[Red Badger]

1st rule of civilization:

DO NOT BURN YOUR FOOD!..................

[IronJack]

For others — like many economists — it's a wasteful misuse of resources.

The resources belong to the farmers who grew them, not to the "economists," who are a bunch of ivory-tower pencil-pushers.

[Dutch Boy]

I’ve personally turned soy and other beans into methane.

[IronJack]

DO NOT BURN YOUR FOOD!

Do you eat soybeans?

[Red Badger]

I have..........

[Governor Dinwiddie]

#6: "The resources belong to the farmers who grew them, not to the "economists," who are a bunch of ivory-tower pencil-pushers."

Of course. And any true economist would point out that this policy is for the free market to decide, not lawmakers.

If biodiesel is useful, there will be a market for it. It's not for congress to tamper with the free market by mandating that biodiesel be produced and consumed.
 

[tomkat]

For some, especially Midwestern farmers, it's the key to creating clean energy from American soil and sun milking the US Treasury under cover of yet another lunatic eco-fascist scam.

U.S. oil industry set to break record, upend global trade

[Reverend Wright]

Man bites dog: NPR has found a renewable energy gov’t subsidy that it doesn’t like - because the money goes to farmers in the Midwest that NPR doesn’t like.

On the merits of the issue. I used to believe in the economic argument.

But thinking about national security and the ability to win the next big war - the West will need all the fossil fuel sources it can get.

[IronJack]

Enough that their use as biodiesel is affecting your survival?

[NorthMountain]

Do you eat soybeans?

My food eats soybeans.

[Red Badger]

I don’t eat that many.

But, without soybeans, we’d have no TOFU!..............

[Red Badger]

LOL!!!!.................

[Fred Hayek]

The flip side is that the Federal Government has mandated ultra low sulfur diesel. This fuel has much lower top of cylinder lubricity, enough to be a problem. The 2% biodiesel blend is enough to restore the top of cylinder lubrication. This is what I have heard from fleet owners, not the government.

[NorthMountain]

;’}

[Hartlyboy]

Chicken and cattle feed mostly, but the pressed cake from the oil extraction process is still used as feed. It also does seem to run smoother in the equipment but it’s too expensive to produce or use given the alternatives we have.

[Darth Gill]

Soy is turning our men into homosexuals and pajama-boys. Soy might as well be used for fuel! Watch this video about SOY