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Seeking Newer Ways of Ethanol Preparation
NYT News Service ^ | February 21, 2006 | Matthew L Wald

Posted on 02/21/2006 8:38:26 AM PST by kellynla

The endless fields of corn in the Midwest can be distilled into endless gallons of ethanol, a clean-burning, high-octane fuel that could end any worldwide oil shortage and reduce emissions that cause global warming.

There is only one catch: Turning corn into ethanol takes energy. For every gallon that an ethanol manufacturing plant produces, it uses the equivalent of almost two-fifths of a gallon of fuel (usually natural gas), and that does not count the fuel needed to make fertilizer for the corn, run the farm machinery, or truck the ethanol to market.

The use of all that fossil fuel to make ethanol substantially reduces its value as an alternative source of energy. Ethanol production is expected to hit 5 billion gallons this year, equal to more than three percent of gasoline supplies, and more ethanol distilleries are being built. But if ethanol is to realize its potential, its proponents recognize that they will have to develop new ways to make it. "In this industry, you can't take a parochial view of your business," said William A Lee, general manager of Chippewa Valley Ethanol, in Benson, Minn., United States and former chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association, an ethanol trade group.

(Excerpt) Read more at deccanherald.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: energy; ethanol
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1 posted on 02/21/2006 8:38:27 AM PST by kellynla
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2 posted on 02/21/2006 8:40:25 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots. Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla

Why don't we require ethanol plants to become self-sustaining and use only additional ethanol in production? Economy of scale. Self-sustaining. Efficiencies will become part of the equation.


3 posted on 02/21/2006 8:41:36 AM PST by AbeKrieger (Hey Muslims - guess what I drew today?)
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To: kellynla

Our moonshiners in in appalachia didn't have an issue :)
Infact, isn't that where NASCAR got started - by the Runners?


4 posted on 02/21/2006 8:41:56 AM PST by Zavien Doombringer (Mr. Franklin, what form of customes did you create in Tiajunna? A beeber, Madam, if you can stune it)
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To: kellynla
There is only one catch: Turning corn into ethanol takes energy.

Gasoline and diesel fuel spontaneously falls from the sky ready for use?

5 posted on 02/21/2006 8:44:07 AM PST by Realism (Some believe that the facts-of-life are open to debate.....)
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To: kellynla

Until it is cheeper than oil to produce....


6 posted on 02/21/2006 8:44:15 AM PST by Danae (Anál nathrach, orth' bháis's bethad, do chél dénmha)
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To: kellynla

I've tasted some distilled corn that was too dam delicious to put into a car engine


7 posted on 02/21/2006 8:44:15 AM PST by Mr. K (Some days even my lucky rocketship underpants don't help...)
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To: kellynla

The oil companies propaganda campaign is in full swing. Look for them to make a complete 180 when they are ready to start producing ethanol themselves.


8 posted on 02/21/2006 8:45:44 AM PST by fix
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To: Danae

And when will this happen since oil will become cheaper with reduced demand making it always cheaper than any alternatives on the horizon?.


9 posted on 02/21/2006 8:47:21 AM PST by metalcor
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To: kellynla
How efficiently can hydrogen be produced?
10 posted on 02/21/2006 8:50:51 AM PST by one more state
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To: one more state

"How efficiently can hydrogen be produced?"
google is your friend
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=How+efficiently+can+hydrogen+be+produced%3F&btnG=Google+Search


11 posted on 02/21/2006 9:01:44 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots. Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla

The only issue with running alcohol in your tank is alcohol eats up seals. So, if you plan on changing out your standard rubber seals for silicon, go for it....


12 posted on 02/21/2006 9:09:22 AM PST by Zavien Doombringer (Mr. Franklin, what form of customes did you create in Tiajunna? A beeber, Madam, if you can stune it)
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To: Zavien Doombringer
The only issue with running alcohol in your tank is alcohol eats up seals. So, if you plan on changing out your standard rubber seals for silicon, go for it....

Seems like a simple fix; I'm sure that some other sort of synthetic seal will be created for this purpose, as well.

13 posted on 02/21/2006 9:15:31 AM PST by JimRed ("Hey, hey, Teddy K., how many girls did you drown today?")
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To: kellynla
There is only one catch: Turning corn into ethanol takes energy.

That's a pretty big catch. I wonder if someone just now told Mr. Wald about that or if he finally listened to someone who was not claiming that the sky is falling (or warming).

14 posted on 02/21/2006 9:24:11 AM PST by FreePaul
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To: Zavien Doombringer
The only issue with running alcohol in your tank is alcohol eats up seals.


I hope PETA doesn't find out or that is it for ethanol.
15 posted on 02/21/2006 9:26:59 AM PST by P-40 (http://www.590klbj.com/forum/index.php?referrerid=1854)
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To: FreePaul

"That's a pretty big catch"

not at all...
the newer mills are being built next to cow pastures
what you don't use to make ethanol; you feed the cows and then use the cow manure for energy to operate the mills...
talk about being self sufficient!LOL


16 posted on 02/21/2006 9:29:01 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots. Semper Fi!)
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To: FreePaul

Boiling oil to make gasoline requires energy also.


17 posted on 02/21/2006 9:37:10 AM PST by fairtrader
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To: All

Ha anybody addressed the fact that Alcohol burns clean and invisible? you could get in a wreck and not know that your car is burning up and getting ready to explode. I know that they had this problem in racing.


18 posted on 02/21/2006 9:42:22 AM PST by reagandemo (The battle is near are you ready for the sacrifice?)
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To: kellynla
The endless fields of corn in the Midwest can be distilled into endless gallons of ethanol,

What total bullshit. The author of the little bit of bullcrap should know that the fields in the midwest aren't "endless" nor is their capacity to produce ethanol.

19 posted on 02/21/2006 9:48:16 AM PST by from occupied ga (Peace through superior firepower)
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To: AbeKrieger
Why don't we require ethanol plants to become self-sustaining and use only additional ethanol in production?

Excellent question. The answer is they can't because they require more energy than they produce.

20 posted on 02/21/2006 9:49:46 AM PST by from occupied ga (Peace through superior firepower)
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