Posted on 06/24/2005 2:18:04 PM PDT by mikemikemikecubed
A lot of times, trying to get something done here in Washington can get pretty frustrating. There's bitter partisanship, petty politics, and a general atmosphere that isn't always conducive to passing legislation that people actually care about.
But I'm happy to report that today wasn't one of those days.
Today, the Senate passed my proposal, which will be included in the transportation bill, that would make it easier for people to fill their cars with a cheaper alternative to gasoline.
Now, I know most of you are as tired as I am of pulling into a gas station and seeing that the prices are even higher than they were the last time you filled up. It's $2.19, then it's $2.24, then it's $2.35, and up and up. When will it stop? As long as we're dependent on oil from the Middle East, we don't know.
That's why we need to stop just talking about energy independence and actually do something about it.
If someone told you that you could fill your cars and trucks with fuel that's 50 cents cheaper than current gas prices, you'd jump at the chance. But what a lot of people don't know is that this option is already out there. It's called E-85, and it's a fuel made of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. It's cleaner than gasoline, it's cheaper, and most importantly, it reduces our dependence on oil from the Middle East. In fact, the Indianapolis 500 thought it was such a good alternative that pretty soon, their entire fleet will run on E-85.
Right now, there are millions of cars and trucks that can run on E-85. You might even have one yourself. They're known as "flexible fuel vehicles," and the auto industry is turning out hundreds of thousands of them every year.
Of course, the reason you're not seeing more cars run on E-85 is that we've got a severe shortage of E-85 fuel stations. While there are more than 180,000 gas stations all over America, only about 400 offer E-85.
This is where my proposal comes in. It's going to cost stations to install E-85 pumps, so we thought we'd give them a tax credit that would encourage them to do so. As more and more stations realize how popular this cheap alternative to gas is becoming, more will utilize this tax credit and install their own pumps.
I say lets go for it!!!
where can i go to see a list of the vehicles that will accept this fuel?
Probably because it hasn't been taxed yet. It's just my guess. Does anyone know? Also, doesn't alcohol hurt fuel systems in the long term?
We'll never have serious tax reform in this country as long as politicians want to use tax credits to influence human behavior.
How about B100?
Ahhh. How we long to return to the Carter economy.
Won't be long before the "hate ethanol" crowd shows up and starts spewing their junk...
Try this:
http://www.e85fuel.com
Lots of good info regarding E85 in this site.
don't the 'agenda 21' crowd want to go one better & outlaw all personal transportation?
>>>Probably because it hasn't been taxed yet. It's just my guess. Does anyone know? Also, doesn't alcohol hurt fuel systems in the long term?
It is due in part to not being taxed, and no to answer your questions.
So if government subsidies help farmers buy gasoline to convert cornhusks into ethanol then maybe I won't be using as much gasoline, but the economy as a whole will.
Right now, there are millions of cars and trucks that can run on E-85. You might even have one yourself. They're known as "flexible fuel vehicles," and the auto industry is turning out hundreds of thousands of them every year.
wow - someone in iowa supporting ehtanol. next thing you know, willie green will be in favor of choo choo trains!
"doesn't alcohol hurt fuel systems in the long term?"
Depends on the engine. Some fuel systems have gaskets that slowly melt when exposed to alcohol. Most newer once do not.
Everything you've read that says that is funded by the oil industry, and is disingenuous at best. They assign the total energy cost of the processing of the corn to only ONE of the products of the process - the ethanol. They totally disregard the other products that result from the production of ethanol. And why is not taxing something always called a subsidy???
Thanks.
I like E85, but to say that it is a substitute for gasoline is disingenuous at best. (Note: Ford seems to have the most vehicles that run on E85, including a lot of their Explorers and Rangers. They're called FFVs, flex-fuel vehicles, and they carry a little green leaf logo on the rear).
1. E85 is heavily subsidized by the government. It actually costs a lot more to make a gallon of E85 than it does to make a gallon of gasoline.
2. E85 is horribly corrosive compared to gasoline. Fuel systems must be designed specifically for the alcohol based fuel, and computers must be designed to allow for the higher burn temperature. Cooling systems must also be designed to keep the engine cool at the higher operating temperature. It is not a direct drop in replacement in an existing vehicle or design that was set for use on gasoline only.
3. A gallon of E85 only contains about 60% (average, depends on what you look at and how you use it) of the energy that a gallon of gasoline does. What that translastes to is that you end up having to burn almost two gallons, or more, to do the same work that a gallon of gasoline would do.
4. And the final objection to E85 - it *still* requires gasoline. Yup, E85 is a mix of 85% ethyl alcohol (hence the name) and 15% gasoline. And since you have to burn more E85 than you do gasoline to do a given task, it doesn't eliminate foreign oil dependency.
Actually, I can vouch for the fact that it takes up to about twice the E85 to equal the work that a given amount of gasoline will do. I had a FFV Explorer in Los Angeles, where E85 has been available for over a decade now. On gasoline, my consumption was about half what it was on E85.
The other thing is that E85 isn't just "not taxed", the Feds actually pay for it to be made. See last year's Fed budget for the staggering amount that farmers got paid to grow corn to make E85 from.
I want E85, I just don't want there to be any illusions about it.
Actually, it's not "slowly" at all, in some cases. And if you try to feed a 2003 Mustang 4.6L E85, you discover that *real* fast.
Most modern fuel systems are more tolerant of alcohol, but they're not alcohol proof.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.