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Ethanol Could Go on GOP Chopping Block
Michigan Capitol Confidential ^ | 11/11/2010 | Jarrett Skorup

Posted on 11/11/2010 5:45:03 AM PST by MichCapCon

When the Republican majority is seated in the House of Representatives this January, many have high expectations that they will cut government spending as many of the candidates promised on the campaign trail. But the tricky question now is: Where to cut?

Some energy and environmental experts say they should begin with energy subsidies; specifically for ethanol.

Ethanol is a biofuel made mostly from corn in North America and can be used as an additive to gasoline. In many states, there is a mandated 10% blend with gasoline; the idea being to lower the amount of oil needed.

But many experts say this doesn't work.

"Contrary to popular belief, ethanol fuel does little or nothing to increase our energy security or stabilize fuel prices," wrote Kenneth Green, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. "Instead, it will increase greenhouse gas emissions, local air pollutant emissions, fresh water scarcity, water pollution (both riparian and oceanic), land and ecosystem consumption, and food prices." ...

(Excerpt) Read more at michigancapitolconfidential.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: corn; ethanol; farming; michigan
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To: MichCapCon

75% of the corn in the US is burned for fuel.

We are burning the food of a rapidly more hungry world.

$1.00 worth of engine-destroyiing ethanol costs $1.70 in taxes totally wasted.


41 posted on 11/11/2010 6:22:42 AM PST by FormerACLUmember (Character is defined by how we treat those who society says have no value.)
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To: MichCapCon

That’s a good place to start.

Turning food into fuel is a really stupid idea.

Especially when we have shale that could do the same thing without raisng food prices.


42 posted on 11/11/2010 6:24:59 AM PST by Venturer
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To: Le Chien Rouge
Ear Of Corn
43 posted on 11/11/2010 6:28:59 AM PST by preacher (A government which robs from Peter to pay Paul will always have the support of Paul.)
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To: MichCapCon

Nice idea, but a few frantic phone calls from Archer Daniels Midland to farm state Senators up for re-election in 2012 will likely stop it in it’s tracks. :(


44 posted on 11/11/2010 6:32:18 AM PST by Mr. Jeeves ( "The right to offend is far more important than any right not to be offended." - Rowan Atkinson)
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To: Steamburg

Not only all that, but ethanol sucks! It is well known that ethanol is bad for many engine types, but ethanol gasoline begines to deteriorate in a matter of weeks. On the other hand, regular gas can stay fresh for a few months. I don’t even trust adding fuel sabilizers to ethanol.


45 posted on 11/11/2010 6:35:03 AM PST by Obadiah (BHO -- out the door in 4!)
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To: Wilum

Drain all fuel out of your small engines when you put them away for the summer/winter. This includes running them until they stall out and lastly drain the bowl of the carburator. This is the only way I have learned(the hard way).
I replaced one carburator on my hedge trimmer. I have also replaced fuel lines on my lawn mower and rebuilt the engine on my lawn tractor.
Lastly , I blew the engine on my Toro 2 stoke snow blower.
I blame ALL of these problems on Ethanol in the fuel.

ALSO, DO NOT TO FORGET TO PUT MOTH BALLS IN A STOCKING ON YOUR ENGINE BLOCK TO KEEP THE MICE FROM NESTING IN AND AROUND THE ENGINE AND AIR INTAKES.


46 posted on 11/11/2010 6:35:53 AM PST by woodbutcher1963
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To: WOBBLY BOB

I nominate “RINO Corn Pimp” as the top political shorthand of 2010. Says so much in three little words. Well done! :)


47 posted on 11/11/2010 6:38:32 AM PST by Mr. Jeeves ( "The right to offend is far more important than any right not to be offended." - Rowan Atkinson)
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To: ozark hilljilly
Why they can’t they figure out a way to make fuel out of Ragweed or dandelion?

Algae!

48 posted on 11/11/2010 6:39:08 AM PST by Toddsterpatriot (Math is hard. Harder if you're stupid.)
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To: MichCapCon

it will no doubt result in a wave of new George McGovern clones being elected out of the Dakotas and Iowa in the next election cycle, but I’m willing to take the risk.


49 posted on 11/11/2010 6:42:13 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: MichCapCon

One other Ethanol issue is the overwhelming amount of damage to fuel system components, most notably in small, two-cycle lawn and garden equipment. Recommendations are to ad StaBil to fuels to eliminate this, but this is only marginally effective.

I have had to rebuild five two-cycle fuel systems this Summer; two of them twice, even using StaBil and draining the fuel system after every usage. The OPEI (Outdoor Power Equipment Institute) could have played a valuable role in the Ethanol decisions, but evidently ‘overlooked’ doing so when they realized how much maintenance money was to be made on the part of powered equipment dealers and parts distributor networks.

But, of course, the planet has been saved, and we no longer have to drill for domestic oil.


50 posted on 11/11/2010 6:46:40 AM PST by arrdon (Never underestimate the stupidity of the American voter.)
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To: woodbutcher1963
This ethanol crap was never about 'reducing greenhouse gases' but about gradual govt intrusion on running our lives at the expense of everything else. This includes wrecking perfecting running engines, driving up food prices and the additional & unnecessary taxpayer funded subsidy to corn growers to produce more corn to create ethanol.

As Ronald Reagan said 'Government is NEVER the solution, but the source of every problem' and now this obummer regime poking their noses & hands into every areas of our lives things will get PROGRESSIVELY WORSE (deliberate pun intended).

51 posted on 11/11/2010 6:46:47 AM PST by prophetic (0Bama = 1 illegal president = 32 illegal, unconstitutional & unnecessary CZARS to do his job!!)
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To: Sacajaweau

What can you smell?


52 posted on 11/11/2010 6:48:08 AM PST by netmilsmom (Happiness is a choice.)
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To: Sacajaweau

Big wind in Wisconsin - 500 foot wind towers hemming in the countryside. http://www.jsonline.com/business/107011438.html

All to meet a Dem governor’s 20% “renewable” mandate.

We’re ruining the countryside for windmills and taxpayers are footing the bill for the shortfall.


53 posted on 11/11/2010 6:49:22 AM PST by sbMKE
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To: netmilsmom
You can actually smell gas...it's not concentrated...like you might smell in a house if you had a very small leak.

And I don't have a big nose either.

54 posted on 11/11/2010 6:54:21 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: prophetic

One of my local farmers said that the people who built the plants, took the money and ran....and that most of them have shut down.


55 posted on 11/11/2010 6:55:43 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: MichCapCon

A good first start.


56 posted on 11/11/2010 7:00:02 AM PST by A Strict Constructionist (Oligarchy...never vote for the Ivy League candidate.)
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To: MichCapCon
Thanks to a FReeper posting where to look for stations that carry non-ethanol gas, IOW, 100% gasoline, I have been going to a local station that supplies it.

With ethanol added gas I was getting 15 mpg. With non-ethanol gas I am getting 18 mpg.

57 posted on 11/11/2010 7:00:17 AM PST by N. Theknow (Kennedys: Can't skipper a boat, Can't drive, Can't ski, Can't fly. But they KNOW what's best!)
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To: MichCapCon

Good choice, bad addative.


58 posted on 11/11/2010 7:01:00 AM PST by A Strict Constructionist (Oligarchy...never vote for the Ivy League candidate.)
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To: A Strict Constructionist

Bad spelling.


59 posted on 11/11/2010 7:02:04 AM PST by A Strict Constructionist (Oligarchy...never vote for the Ivy League candidate.)
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To: MichCapCon

While they’re at it, the subsidies on wind and solar power could use some trimming!

I read an article about a guy who made money producing solar power, and he didn’t even have to sell it! Just replacing his own consumption of grid power got him all kinds of rebates. And of course, the equipment was heavily subsidized. Ridiculous!


60 posted on 11/11/2010 7:03:25 AM PST by Born to Conserve
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