Time for change

[James48]

Run time: 02:01 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8Vn3h8kjWQ   Posted on YouTube: May 28, 2010 By YouTube Member: av8tor17b Views on YouTube: 2   Posted on DU: May 28, 2010 By DU Member: James48 Views on DU: 459

 
We have GOT to change.

It's time. We've got to get OFF our addiction to oil. And onto renewable fuels for cars like E85 ethanol, Bio-diesel. We need Wind. We need Solar. We need to break our addiction to the black death that is oil.

It's a national security issue, where we send a billion dollars every day outside our nation.

And it's an environmental disaster, that will affect our water for decades.

It's time for change.

[skeptical cynic]

1. I like the video until right at the end

E85 fuel is 85% ethanol.

Ethanol fuel has a net energy yield of about 1.2 (It takes about 1 BTU of petroleum energy to produce 1.2 BTU of ethanol energy).

That 1 BTU of energy comes from fossil fuels (Petroleum and natural gas).

Even Alberta tar sands yield about 3 BTUs of energy for each BTU of energy used to produce it.

Corn ethanol is heavily subsidized by taxpayers ($3 billion in tax credits in 2007 (76% of renewable fuels subsidies in 2007, possible growing to $5 billion in 2010, while solar, wind and geothermal received only 5% of the total).

Corn requires a lot of water, and is grown in a region with a declining aquifer.

Most corn now produced is a GMO that uses a lot of pesticide (e.g. "Roundup Ready" corn).

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/corn-ethanols-subsidy-glut-5489/

[James48]

2. Postive balance

Ethanol today is a net positive energy balance, according to the Federal Government Alternative Fuels and Advanced Research center:



http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/emissions_balance.html

Ethanol reduces carbon footprint,is a positive balance on energy. The subsidies you note aren't given to the ethanol industry- by and large they are given to the entity which blends ethanol with petroleum. In short- Oil Companies receive the ethanol subsidies.

I'm in favor of eliminating subsidies for E10 blending- IF we mandate E10 as a national standard. I favor keeping the subsidy for now for E85 blending- but it should be paid to the gas station owner, or the vehicle owner, rather than the Oil Company.