Posted on 03/06/2006 11:00:00 AM PST by kellynla
Washington, DC [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) announced that the U.S. ethanol industry set annual production records in 2005, producing just less than 4 billion gallons (3.904 billion gallons) and averaging nearly 255,000 barrels of ethanol production daily, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
"These figures represent not only the tremendous growth our industry is experiencing, but also the future growth that will occur," said RFA President Bob Dinneen.
"Demand for ethanol will only continue to grow as refiners remove MTBE from the marketplace and more Americans switch to this clean burning, renewable fuel," said Dinneen. "The U.S. ethanol industry, with 2.1 billion gallons of capacity currently under construction, will continue to expand to meet this soaring demand."
Currently, 95 ethanol plants have a combined production capacity of more than 4.3 billion gallons a year.
(Excerpt) Read more at renewableenergyaccess.com ...
Try googling on something to the effect of "Pimental study debunked". As it turns out, Professor Pimintal has no idea how corn is raised or what it's used for.
Just like our whole basis for poo poing freon r-12 was based on bogus research at USC by 3 "acedemic" idiots sponsored by Du Pont.
The State of Iowa offers a $.025 tax credit for every gallon of ethanol or ethanol added gasoline for gas stations in Iowa.
"All the farm lobby should invest and become overnight millionaires."
Oh no! We can't make millionaires out of farmers... What would happen to all the millionaires we are making in the mid-east?
Gee I wonder who debunked it? I wonder if it's on Ethanol.org?
Excellent. No more need for a government subsidy. Hope you get rich without it.
No maybe. We'll be importing both, or did you forget about CAFTA?
"Wrong. It depends on the current world price of sugar. When sugar is up Brazil imports oil to offset the increased demand of sugar. when the price is down they produce ethanol."
you oughta know better than to tell me I'm wrong without documentation.
"Not only does Brazil no longer have to import oil but an estimated $69 billion that would have gone to the Middle East or elsewhere has stayed in the country and is revitalizing once-depressed rural areas."
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/02/06/8367959/index.htm
MYTH:
Ethanol takes more energy to produce than it contributes.
FACT: In June 2004, the U.S. Department of Agriculture updated its 2002 analysis of the issue and determined that the net energy balance of ethanol production is 1.67 to 1. For every 100 BTUs of energy used to make ethanol, 167 BTUs of ethanol is produced. In 2002, USDA had concluded that the ratio was 1.35 to 1. The USDA findings have been confirmed by additional studies conducted by the University of Nebraska and Argonne National Laboratory.
These figures take into account the energy required to plant, grow and harvest the corn—as well as the energy required to manufacture and distribute the ethanol.
The net energy balance of ethanol production continues to improve because ethanol production is becoming more efficient. For example, one bushel of corn now yields 2.8 gallons of ethanol—up from 2.5 gallons just a few years ago
Brazil grows a lot of sugarcane, which is unsurprising given its tropical climate.
We grow corn--and making ethanol from corn is much more difficult than making it from sugarcane (and, hence, more expensive).
Ethanol, as practiced in this country, is nothing but welfare to Archer Daniels Midland, which doesn't need my tax dollars to be profitable.
Brazil is in CAFTA?
Try the Argonne National Laboratory.
my issue is that there are alternative sources of fuel and energy than having my fellow Marines get killed in the Middle East just so Americans can have gasoline...
there are other sources of ethanol than corn and sugar...like switchgrass
This would be excellent news if it were true. When will it produce more money than it consumes?
Soon, pard, soon.
Look for FTAA (my earlier post said CAFTA, my bad.)to erase all import tarifs on ethanol from Brazil.
Still, CAFTA will get us sugar, and possibly ethanol from Central American countries sooner, and with no duty.
Just a matter of time until FTAA is passed.
switchgrass
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.