Posted on 01/07/2006 7:38:04 PM PST by neverdem
ALBANY, Jan. 6 - Some 200,000 New Yorkers own vehicles that can run on corn-based ethanol instead of gasoline. But many have no idea that their Ford Explorers, Chevy Impalas or Nissan Titans can use this type of fuel, which some view as a way to liberate Americans from Middle Eastern oil.
In any case, the closest station carrying ethanol is in Ottawa, as the Northeast is the one region of the United States that uniformly does not offer ethanol to the public.
But Gov. George E. Pataki wants to change that and make ethanol and biodiesel, two controversial alternative fuels, available in the 27 service areas on the New York State Thruway and in 100 more stations throughout the state as early as this year, in a first small step toward reducing the state's petroleum consumption. The governor is also proposing incentives to bring refineries that produce ethanol into the state.
Costs and further details of the plan, which Mr. Pataki first sketched out in his State of the State address on Wednesday, will not be disclosed until he makes his budget proposal later this month. If the plan is approved by the Legislature, it will give New Yorkers one of the nation's most diverse ranges of fuel choices. Only Minnesota offers an ethanol-rich blend known as E85 at more than 100 stations. Likewise, biodiesel is offered at only a few hundred of the nation's roughly 180,000 stations.
Both fuels can be made from a variety of crops, trees and plant material, and even used grease from fast-food outlets in the case of biodiesel. Ethanol, or grain alcohol, is already mixed with gasoline sold in the New York metropolitan area, but in amounts of...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Petroleum production and refining use energy as well.
But you bring up an interesting point. How many BTUs of energy are needed to produce one BTU of Ethanol vs. one BTU of gasoline or diesel?
I know fermentation itself releases energy- that's why barns full of too-wet hay catch fire.
With modern technology, how much of the heat from the evaporation process can be recaptured?
Have you looked into WVO? I just bought an old diesel VW Pickup. Diesels will run on almost any type of oil (peanut, soy, kerosene, waste vegetable oil, etc.). Stop by your local Chinese food restaurant and fill up for free. Some filtering required to get the fortune cookie crumbs out first, of course.
I can field this.
E85 (85% Ethanol/15% petroleum gasoline) can damage the fuel systems of engines not engineered for this fuel. The alcohol will damage rubber/plastic components.
E85 capable vehicles have fuel systems with seals, gaskets, etc. rated for alcohol.
Digging up tanks in response to very expensive EPA mandates.
Probably installing double walled tanks with leak detection.
Expensive for the station owners (and passed on to consumers) but I don't miss that rainbow sheen on my drinking water.
Here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9340969/
I believe that all manufacturers now design their vehicles to run on the new fuels. I know that bio-diesel is OK in all new diesels.
He should be pleased with Teddy!
No, Teddy is pleased with him.
When was the last time Teddy agreed with a Republican, anyway?
OK, now post a reference not that isn't typical MSM "some experts say," and "we've heard once of," b.s. Yes, OLD cars may have problems in a few minor areas (fuel lines, etc.) but no "serious" engine damage.
I would like for Pataki to immediately retire to Cuba, and they want ice-water in hell, however..
I don't have to furnish you with anything.
I made a true observation which you are free to accept or reject, and I provided a link.
If you want to risk a blown engine by using E85 that's your business and none of my concern.
No, but I read about it. Being retired, I drive so little that it is not a personal issue, just one I have been interested in for a long time. Have you heard about the turkey oil coming from processing plant in MO ? That's a good one. If the EPA stays out of it, Yankee ingenuity will triumph.
Well, one could run a still on solar power - it does not take that much, just mirrors. The Brazilians have found ethanol marginally economical - not from grain, though, but from biomass, IIRC.
VW will only warranty up to B5.
Ok so set up a solar power farm in Manhattan.
I knew a bunch of drivers who used to fill up with ethanol--but someone got MADD....(8^D)
That RINO Pataki can KMA!
Why Manhattan? Arizona, or maybe Death Valley would be proper locations for solar-powered stills. I've seen a solar powered kitchen range: aluminum mirror about 6 feet in diameter, with three metal rods forming a sort of a tripod - and on that tripod a kettle was hung. On a regular 90 F day the water in that teakettle was brought to boiling surprizingly fast, something like 20 minutes, IIRC.
surprizingly=surprisingly. Adjacent key typo.
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