Posted on 04/03/2010 5:06:49 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The Environmental Protection Agency wants to dump more corn into your fuel tank this summer, and it's going to cost more than you think.
The agency is expected to approve a request from 52 ethanol producers known collectively as "Growth Energy" to boost existing requirements that gasoline contain 10 percent ethanol to 15 percent. The change means billions more in government subsidies for companies in the business of growing corn and converting it into ethanol. For the rest of us, it means significantly higher gasoline and food prices.
It's time that this shameless corporate welfare gets plowed under.
In 2007, members of Congress joined with the Bush administration in mandating by government fiat the annual sale of 36 billion gallons of ethanol by 2022. To meet the ambitious sales targets, the EPA has little choice but to approve the 15 percent ethanol fuel blend. Big Corn's advocates claim that forcing Americans to use this renewable fuel would reduce dependency on Mideast oil and lead to cleaner air. It's just as likely, however, that they want to get their hands on the $16 billion a year from the 45-cent-per-gallon "blender's tax credit" - in addition to the various state and federal mandates giving us no choice but to pump their pricey product into our fuel tanks.
The benefits are overstated. According to the EPA, reduction in foreign imports will result in $3.7 billion in "energy security benefits" at the expense of $18 billion in increased fuel costs by 2022. Environmental testing has proved inconclusive, as certain types of pollutants increase when ethanol content increases. It should be noted that the EPA's track record on "environmental" gasoline additives includes Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE), a possible carcinogen whose once-mandated use has contaminated groundwater across the country.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Die, corporate and other rent-seeking scum.
How much water is going into these corn crops?
If this new gas blend screws up my car engine, I’m going to find the ethanol-pushing corporate scum with the deepest pockets and send them the repair bills!
How about going also after corn syrup that is in nearly all of our foods !
Now THAT’s corny!
First off I live in “The Tall Corn State” - Iowa. Secondly, I do not want any tax dollars going to corporate interests. I have to hear pro-ethanol arguments all the time on the local news. I do have a question about this issue.
Corn grown for ethanol is not the same as corn grown for food. Two different crops. Also, the corn yield that is grown for food still increases every year. We have never grown less corn for food than in the past. So how is the cost of food caused to rise by ethanol?
No one should have to buy ethanol blended gasoline if they do not want it. I have used 15% ethanol as long as I can remember, and it is always cheaper than regular gasoline. I do realize that I am getting less m.p.g. My car is 16 years old and has never had a fuel related problem.
Thanks, Dubya.
a stupid waste of my money
Well, that’s good that your car is hanging tough. Hopefully, mine will, too. But they are still corporate scum for using the force of government to push their product on consumers.
You vill report to ze re-education camp for asking zat inconvenient question! Now go!
Oh geez, they know better. If you want a car that runs; don’t put ethanol in it. It will gum up your engine.
It costs more than a gallon of gas to create 1 gallon of ethanol. Some studies put the amount of water at about 800 gallons. Its a huge scam.
The busiest gas station in the area is the one that advertises ethanol-free gasoline. Their pumps are backed up all day long with people filling multiple gas cans.
“My car is 16 years old and has never had a fuel related problem”
Ethanol damages the non-metal parts in the fuel system for engines not properly equipped. If left sitting it also separates from the gasoline which also causes damage.
Lucky you, here in Florida we cannot buy ethanol free gas.
We nearly trashed the 65 HP Mercury on our pontoon boat until we figured out that ethanol gas was the culprit. What in the world do FLA boaters do?
I see wal-Mart has started putting EtOH 10% in gas. It looks like it cost me 1.0 MPG in My GMC Yukon. I am searching for an EtOH free station.
barbra ann
there are some stabilizers which help a little. The only real answer is to use your boat a lot and don’t leave much gas in it.
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