Lawmakers push state ethanol mandate

[gizmo1979]

This was the headline in the Metro section of Journal this morning.I don't know much about ethanol,but on the West wing last week they dealt with tis issue.Is Ethanol such a good thing?Does it really require petroleum to be made?Is it good for the environment?Is it good for cars.enlighten me.



http://www.jsonline.com/

[louis-t]

1. I do know that ethanol is expensive to make

I've never understood why we don't use more. Home grown. Less dependence on foreign oil. Oh, wait, chimp's an oil man. Forget it.

[vireo]

2. It's a dangerous boondoggle, IMO

More info here: http://magazine.audubon.org/incite/incite0408.html

Direct link to JS article: http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/jan05/297475.asp

[gizmo1979]

5. Thankyou that's what I thought.

I wasn't sure it was as bad as was portrayed on West Wing,but I guess they were right on.Unfortunately looking at the number of posts it is not a very popular subject.Thanks for opening my eyes wider.

[sybylla]

3. There was a nice story on the CBC this morning about a company in Canada

that uses a fungus to "brew" ethanol. They can make it from straw, a by product of grain production rather than the grain. And their product is clean burning. I imagine they have stumbled upon a way to make it much less expensive.

Regardless of the cost, if we can get a decent ratio of energy out to energy in, we are stupid not to pursue it. It's cleaner for the environment and gets us off the petroleum teat.

On edit: the items mentioned as problems in vireo's articles can be dealt with by an large. I've never pretended it was a panacea, but moving away from petroleum is a start.

[vireo]

4. Well, Canadians often do have better ideas

I know I prefer their election methods! ;-)

[Zebulon]

6. Ethanol mandates

are basically corporate welfare for the farm industry.

[sybylla]

7. Another article on Ethanol and Mandates

http://www.wisinfo.com/journal/spjopinion/282507522543455.shtml
Editorial
Mon, Jan 31, 2005
Corn-based fuel isn't all it's cracked up to be

<snip>
If all gasoline sold in Wisconsin were required to include 10 percent ethanol, state farmers would get a boost, the environment would benefit and prices might drop because manufacturers could sell one blend everywhere, instead of the "boutique" fuels currently used in Milwaukee and other large cities.

It would create jobs in ethanol plants. And, of course, the more domestic fuel we use, the less dependent we are upon foreign oil.

That's the rationale behind a bill introduced in both the state Assembly and Senate, sponsored by 38 lawmakers including central Wisconsin's Russ Decker and Jerry Petrowski.

But mandated ethanol isn't nearly as simple as one might think.
Alcohol does burn cleaner than gasoline and it is renewable. But it also has many drawbacks - drawbacks that critics say far outweigh its benefits in most areas.
<snip>

FYI

[sybylla]

8. Update - Ethanol for all gas revs feud

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/images/index.php?ntid=27279&ntpid=0
Ethanol for all gas revs feud
By Matt Pommer
February 4, 2005

A bill to require 10 percent ethanol in all gasoline sold in Wisconsin is pitting agricultural and industrial interests against each other.

Proponents of the legislation said at a Capitol committee hearing Thursday that it would reduce reliance on foreign oil and help Wisconsin's corn growers. But opponents said requiring ethanol could create new problems in meeting federal clean air standards.

Assembly Agriculture Committee Chairman Al Ott, R-Forest Junction, expressed surprise at the controversy and postponed committee action on the measure. "We didn't see the volcanic eruption. We're going to delay a vote for several weeks," Ott told the committee.

State Agriculture Secretary Rod Nilsestuen said the legislation would help the state "diversify its mix of energy, rural economic opportunity and farmer income." He added that Wisconsin consumes 2.6 billion gallons of gasoline annually.

<snip>

Later in the article is a discussion of the benefits and possible problems.