Posted on 01/04/2011 8:03:13 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
WASHINGTON (AP) — A ruling by the Obama administration allowing the sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol is running into legal hurdles from trade groups opposing the plan.
The National Petrochemical and Refiners Association sued the Environmental Protection Agency on Monday over the decision to allow the sale of gasoline containing higher blends of corn-based ethanol, the second major group to protest the ruling.
The Obama administration said in October that gas stations could start selling the ethanol blend for vehicles built since the 2007 model year, increasing it from the current blend of 10 percent ethanol.
(Excerpt) Read more at gopusa.com ...
It doesn't. Ethanol actually reduces miles per gallon of fuel because its energy density is lower than petroleum gasoline. It does increase octane number, but that is an index related to engine knock, not efficiency. Other gasoline blend components can increase octane just as much without diminishing miles per gallon.
The ostensible reasons for the ethanol mandate are related to energy security, international trade economics, and environment. The benefits claimed are all controversial and, from my study, dubious at best. We all know the real reasons for the ethanol mandate and subsidies. WRT natural gas powered cars: these are feasible, but your trunk will be occupied by a much larger fuel tank filled with heavy, high-pressure natural gas. The USPS trucks here in North Texas are dual fuel, but the USPS discontinued using natural gas for fuel here even though prices now are relatively low. It didn't work for them even though they fill up at same place for motor gasoline or natural gas.
My chainsaw ain't workin' worth a crap now. How did you locate non-ethanol gas stations? Just driving around?
A 15% ethanol mandate is less costly to the government than Cash for Clunckers. Rather than paying people to wreck their car, the Feds mandate that they wreck their car’s engine.
According to the Keynesians, this is great economics. It will create new demand for new Government Motor cars with the fuel systems and gasket materials necessary for E85 flex fuel. I’m surprised Paul Krugman hasn’t written a NYT article about this development.
why do refineries think they
get to decide what fuel I put
in my car?
Just so nobody forgets: The ethanol was mandated when Republicans controlled the Presidency, the Senate, and the House.
It was in 2005 that Congress enacted the Energy Policy Act that mandates the use of ethanol in gasoline, which was signed by George W Bush.
It’s also worth remembering that Nixon signed the original EPA legislation and George HW Bush signed the Clean Air Amendments that enable the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide as an air pollutant.
www.pure-gas.org
Lists gas stations with REAL gas by state and community.
Godd@mn the epa!
why do POLITICIANS think they
get to decide what fuel I put
in my car?
________________________
Fixed that for you.
I bet refineries don’t want anything to do with ethanol since it probably increases their production costs for the final product.
You could test your gas with kits that are available on the Internet. I test mine now. I know the gas in my local station is free of that crap. I plan to test other stations as well.
Ruins the gas pumps, ruins our autos, raises the cost of food...........just what the maoist had in mind.
Refiners, pipelines, wholesalers, retailers, and drivers hate, or at least should hate, ethanol because it is hydrophilic. Water readily separates from petroleum hydrocarbons (i.e., oil and water don't mix), but it mixes readily with alcohol. Thus, you can easily get water mixed into motor gasoline since the ethanol mixes with both water and gasoline.
The oil refining and marketing industry is also concerned about performance issues of using ethanol in their customers' automobiles. The EPA and the rest of the USG doesn't care if their mandate destroys your car's engine, but businessmen actually want their products to work well for their customers. It's bad for business. For some reason, government screws up over and over again, but it still gets paid because it can coerce taxpayers. Businessmen rely on voluntary customers for their livelihoods.
why do refineries think they
get to decide what fuel I put
in my car?
BECAUSE THEY WILL GO TO JAIL IF THEY DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE MANDATE, THAT’S WHY.
there is no federal maximum mandate, for
hydrocarbon content, any fuel distribution
operation can sell 100% hydrocarbon, if they want to.
the mandate, is for the minimum content
of the product of the refineries.
In other words, you buy from the refineries,
or else. how nice of them
You forgot to include: “ruins the environment”.
Ethanol and other bio-fuels are responsible for increasing fertilizer runoff into waterways and reducing habitat for wildlife. If you believe in the global warming hysteria, they also increase greenhouse gases.
Or else you don't buy any gasoline because all gasoline is manufactured in petroleum fuels refineries.
The EPA exempts "small refineries" from its mandate because the mandate would be overwhelmingly uneconomic for them. Exempt refineries comprise a very small fraction of US refinery capacity.
Sure, one can still retail 100% hydrocarbon motor gasoline, if you can get it. It's generally available only in areas served by "small refineries" that serve relatively small markets.
“I need to find where to buy gas without [ethanol].”
State-by-state listings are at: http://pure-gas.org/
Ethanol has a higher Octane Rating, but much lower heat capacity per gallon. So your car will not be as prone to knock ( now that there’s no lead antiknock in gasoline). With the lower heat content, to produce the same power as it would with straight gasoline, your car’s computer has to add fuel to maintain the power level. This is what’s so stupid about ethanol. It takes more energy to produce it and it takes more of it to propel you down the road. Expect to get 10% lower milage with 10% ethanol blend and 15% less with a 15% mix. Also, it was an expensive proposition for the automakers because ethanol is corrosive to many of the parts in the engine’s fuel system. Also some elastomers ( used for seals) had to be changed along with a more sophisticated engine management system that has the ability to determine the ethanol blend currently in use. On top of these negatives, ethanol production is driving up the price of corn so food and beef are more expensive What a government!!!
All that so they can avoid drilling where abundant oil exists. Like in ANWR for example.
A salesman with the local Government Motors Dealer told me last week that they recommend anyone buying a E85 flex fuel vehicle to get cast heads on it, not aluminum. E85 burns too hot for aluminum heads.
When I ask if it was true that if you burn regular gas in a E85 flex fuel vehicle your mileage would increase 20% or more. He said YES.
My 2005 GM pick up is nearing the end of it's warranty was the only reason I was in their dealership.
If you want a location to buy 100% gasoline (ethanol free) check out: pure-gas.org or watch the billboards outside C Stores near you.
Thanks for posting a clickable link for ethanol free gasoline.
Any recommendations as to which kits work?
Costs of kits, supplies etc?
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