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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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To: reagandemo

"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."

I would HOPE that anyone who is able to get out of their vehicle would do the same thing if their vehicle were running on gasoline...
GET THE HELL OUT OF THE FRIGGIN' VEHICLE!


21 posted on 02/21/2006 9:50:29 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots. Semper Fi!)
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To: reagandemo
Has 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.

With a gasoline/alcohol blend the flames are quite visible.

Good question, though.

22 posted on 02/21/2006 9:53:51 AM PST by null and void (That 12 jurors can overturn the leviathan of "The Law" strikes fear into statists across this nation)
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To: from occupied ga

you might want to read the article I posted this a.m. from Iowa before you "enlighten" us with any more of your eloquent rhetoric! LOL


23 posted on 02/21/2006 9:53:57 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots. Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla
Also carry a set of 'safety marshmallows' to determine if your car is on fire.
24 posted on 02/21/2006 9:55:16 AM PST by AmericaUnited
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To: kellynla

He only knows cotton...


25 posted on 02/21/2006 9:56:02 AM PST by AmericaUnited
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To: kellynla

Just stuff Ted Kennedy in a huge wine press. Ethanol in unlimited supply.


26 posted on 02/21/2006 9:58:29 AM PST by LIConFem (A fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi.)
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To: kellynla; fairtrader

When you consider the energy required to find oil, produce it, transport it, refine it and transport the result it's amazing that there is any useful energy left. I guess oil must be a pretty good bargain in spite of all of the government roadblocks. Ethanol must not be very attractive or the producers wouldn't need government money and mandates to get people to use it.


27 posted on 02/21/2006 9:59:00 AM PST by FreePaul
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To: P-40

Leaves the skin and bones...clogs up the filters...


28 posted on 02/21/2006 10:02:11 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: FreePaul

you seem to forget the most important cost of foreign oil...
The lives of American military service men and women and their families!


29 posted on 02/21/2006 10:02:20 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots. Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla
You might try reading this before you post any more drivel
30 posted on 02/21/2006 10:04:22 AM PST by from occupied ga (Peace through superior firepower)
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To: null and void
Yep Ethanol burns clean, no smoke or visible flame. They would have to add something to it to make it visible while burning. I am not a chemist but would that not possibly have two out comes? One making more pollution and 2 reducing the btu's of it? Inquiring minds want to know.
31 posted on 02/21/2006 10:07:21 AM PST by reagandemo (The battle is near are you ready for the sacrifice?)
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To: from occupied ga

drivel?

FYI, I served in the USMC and I have seen enough dead Marines from Middle East wars to last me a lifetime... now when you are ready to enlist; you let me know "Drivel!"

Brazil has been manufacturing ethanol for a decade and they now DO NOT IMPORT ANY OIL with 70 percent of their vehicles operating on ethanol!

if you're going to break wind; keep it in GA! LMAO


32 posted on 02/21/2006 10:12:15 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots. Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla
FYI, I served in the USMC and I have seen enough dead Marines from Middle East wars to last me a lifetime..

And this qualifies you as an expert in the thermodynamics of ethanol production because?

33 posted on 02/21/2006 10:15:42 AM PST by from occupied ga (Peace through superior firepower)
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To: from occupied ga

no, what it qualifies me for genius is that I don't want to see any more Marines killed in the Middle East just so clowns like you can have cheap gas...let us all know when you catch up! LMAO


34 posted on 02/21/2006 10:18:46 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots. Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla
"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"

This is fine as long as you can ignore the facts. Look south to Brazil. Over 75% of the fuel is ethanol.

The media has never been known for letting facts get in the way of a good "story".
35 posted on 02/21/2006 10:23:53 AM PST by JeffersonRepublic.com (There is no truth in the news, and no news in the truth.)
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To: kellynla

We need to move as fast as possible to develop alternative fuel sources and renewable sources of energy. We should have been doing this back in the 70s. It is necessary for the future of the planet and to end our dependence on Arab dictatorships. It will also help to alleviate our "balance of payments problem".For too long the self serving oil companies have held back development. If they are smart they will turn their research and development laboratories toward the direction of alternative fuels. Its time to diversify if they want to survive as viable corporate entities.


36 posted on 02/21/2006 10:26:27 AM PST by Courdeleon02
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To: kellynla

well, here's what some guys from The Wall Street Journal have to say:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06012/637006.stm

Massive conversion to ethanol might be an expensive and complicated proposition...
but taking a full accounting of the cost of paying for foreign oil
AND subsidizing people that want to kill us might make the choices a lot clearer
for the average citizen.


37 posted on 02/21/2006 10:26:30 AM PST by VOA
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To: VOA

whatever it costs;
it's a lot cheaper than one dead Marine.

Semper Fi,
Kelly


38 posted on 02/21/2006 10:28:13 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots. Semper Fi!)
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To: VOA

What is the difference between methanol and corn whiskey?


39 posted on 02/21/2006 10:31:33 AM PST by phil1750 (Love like you've never been hurt;Dance like nobody's watching;PRAY like it's your last prayer)
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To: JeffersonRepublic.com

" Look south to Brazil. Over 75% of the fuel is ethanol."

yep, I posted an article last night on what's been going on down in Brazil for the past decade.
Between the Brazilians and ethanol and the French and nuclear; we could learn a lot!!!


40 posted on 02/21/2006 10:32:42 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots. Semper Fi!)
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