Ruining engines is a preposterous claim. The engine lives of cars and trucks is some 2-3 times greater now. Just the other day, a young woman I know had just had her dad’s truck, a gasoline engine, turning over 400k miles. Point two- the ethanol subsidy ended in 2012. Capturing sun energy by plants is far and away the most efficient—400 gallons of ethanol per plus high protein feed, plus many other corn based products. You don’t have to use it. There is gas without ethanol.
“There is gas without ethanol.” Ergo my “need” for a subsidy. ;-)
>>There is gas without ethanol.
Not true in many geographies, it is required by the EPA formulation rules. It doesn’t exist in metro ATL.
There’s maybe 3 stations more than 75 miles from me in CA with E free gas.
A requirement to utilize something is the same as a subsidy for the producers, it creates artificial demand.
You get crappier gas mileage (10-15% lower) due to the lower unit energy.
It sequesters water when allowed to sit for long periods.
My pre 1960’s Briggs and Strattons and my 1928 Maytag don’t like it.
The extra “load” it puts on our national topsoil resources is an issue. There’s less incentive to rotate to soil resting crops or allow large fallow areas to regenerate.
That said, it is a premium octane enhancer plus if you have a vehicle with the capability to burn E85 you have the potential to have several thousand gallons of fuel in a SHTF scenario if you store several hundred gallons of pure gas and can make alcohol...
Hey now, stop making sense! Some people’s greatest source of satisfaction is bashing alternative energy (or Sessions) on FR!
“...the ethanol subsidy ended in 2012...”
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MANDATED USE = SUBSIDY
The economic effect is the same. Why do you fear letting the free market decide how much (if any) corn derived ethanol will be used for fuel? You and I both know the answer to that. There are many forms of corrupt cronyism and they ALL cause economic inefficiencies and less overall national wealth than a free market would otherwise deliver.
I know of one gas station in my world (over an hour away) which carries no-ethanol gas. It is simply not readily supplied. Ethanol from corn is a scam that we continue to pay for.
The nearest Pure Gas station is more than 30 miles from me.
Subsidizing corn growers for this bureaucratic boondoggle is not a conservative stance. It should stand or fall on its own merits, not at the point of government guns.