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epa approves more ethanol in fuel
by mary clare jalonick, associated press
manufacturing.net
Nearly two thirds of drivers could have more corn-based ethanol in their fuel tanks under an environmental protection agency decision. The agency said that 15 percent ethanol blended with gasoline is safe for cars and light-duty trucks manufactured between 2001 and 2006, expanding an October decision that the higher blend is safe for cars built since 2007.the maximum gasoline blend has been 10 percent ethanol.
The fuel is popular in farm country because most ethanol comes from corn and other grains. It faces strong opposition, however, from the auto industry, environmentalists, cattle ranchers, food companies and a broad coalition of other groups. Those groups say that using corn to make ethanol makes animal feed more expensive, raises prices at the grocery store and tears up the land. There have already been several lawsuits filed against the epa -- including one filed by automakers, boat manufacturers and outdoor power equipment manufacturers -- since the agency decided to allow the higher blends for newer cars in October.
Critics said the change could be frustrating for drivers of older cars who will have to figure out which service station pump to use. And they argue that many retailers will opt not to sell the higher blend because of the expense of adding new pumps and signs.
"it seems like corn growers and the ethanol industry are the only real winners here," said Craig cox of the environmental working group an advocacy group that opposes use of the fuel.
The obama administration has remained supportive of the renewable fuel, and the epa has said a congressional mandate for increase-ed ethanol use can't be achieved without allowing higher percentage blends.congress buoyed a broad coalition of members from farm states, has required refiners to blend 36 billion gallons of biofuels, mostly ethanol into fuel by 2022.
Agriculture secretary Tom vilsack said after the decision that expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline "gives consumers the option of purchasing domestically produced renewable transportation fuels and also support america's farmers and ranchers."
members of the ethanol industry say that use of the fuel can help reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil while boosting a domestic industry and creating jobs. The industry group growth energy petitioned the epa to raise the blend in March 2009. Tom buis, president of the group, said there are still steps to go to get more ethanol on the market.
"ultimately we will get this marketplace open because it's a win for america, a win for consumers and a win for our economy," he said.
The epa has said there won't be a decision any time soon on boosting the ethanol concentration for cars and light trucks manufactured before 2001, or for motorcycles, heavy-duty vehicles or non-road engines because there is not sufficient testing to support such an approval.
The epa has delayed decisions on using 15 percent ethanol several times as the agency and the energy department have tested the ethanol-blended gasoline to make sure it is safe. The agency has approved the blend only for newer cars and trucks because they have more durable emissions systems.
Ethanol burns hotter than gasoline, causing catalytic converters, which help clean engine emissions, to break down faster.
_________________________________________________________________________
ethanol production fueling ‘food inflation’
editor’s note: this article is for informational purposes only; it does not reflect an opinion one way or another.
While rising food prices have been a factor in recent riots in egypt, tunisia and elsewhere, the united states is continuing to increase its use of corn to make ethanol, pushing up grain and meat prices worldwide.
“the global economy is getting back on its feet, but so too is an old enemy: food inflation,” the wall street journal states in an editorial, noting that the united nations benchmark index for food reached a record high in December, “raising fears of shortages and higher prices.”
in 2001, only 7 percent of america’s corn crop, about 707 million bushels, was used to make ethanol fuel for vehicles. By 2010, nearly 40 percent of American corn went for ethanol — almost 5 billion bushels out of total u.s. Production of 12.4 billion bushels.
American farmers account for about 39 percent of global corn production, and about 16 percent of the crop is exported, so america’s ethanol production can influence world prices. March futures for corn recently hit a 30-month high of $6.67 a bushel, up from $4 a bushel a year ago.
Also, since 40 percent of u.s. Corn production is used as animal feed, rising corn prices push up the cost of beef, poultry and other items as well.
“this trend is the deliberate result of policies designed to subsidize ethanol,” and it “coincides with a growing consensus that ethanol achieves none of its alleged policy goals,” the journal observes.
Ethanol supporters claim it reduces American dependence on foreign oil, but a cornell university scientist calculated that even if the entire American crop was used for ethanol, it would satisfy just 4 % of our oil consumption.
And the environmental protection agency has downplayed assertions that ethanol provides a cleaner source of energy than gasoline, saying it “has a minimal to negative impact on the environment,” according to the journal.
The American thinker observed: “today there is a global food shortage and sky-rocketing prices. This has become the underlying factor in the riots in tunisia, algeria and egypt, where up to 56 percent of a person's income is dedicated to the acquisition of food. These riots are now leading to the upheaval of governments and the very real possibility of the ascendancy of the radical elements into control.”
a significant factor “in the overall global food situation is the American decision to, in essence, burn food in its cars, a policy championed by the environmentalists since the 1990s,” American thinker also noted.
“there is no quicker way to foment riots and revolution than to deprive the populace of food, particularly when so much daily income goes into feeding oneself and one's family. The pictures we have seen in north africa May well be repeated elsewhere throughout the world.”
noting that congress recently voted to extend the $5 billion tax credit for blending ethanol into gasoline, the journal concludes: “at a time when the world will need more corn and grains, it makes no sense to devote scarce farmland to make a fuel that exists only because of taxpayer subsidies and mandates.
“if food supplies tighten and prices keep rising, such a policy will soon become immoral.”
by mary clare jalonick, associated press
manufacturing.net
Nearly two thirds of drivers could have more corn-based ethanol in their fuel tanks under an environmental protection agency decision. The agency said that 15 percent ethanol blended with gasoline is safe for cars and light-duty trucks manufactured between 2001 and 2006, expanding an October decision that the higher blend is safe for cars built since 2007.the maximum gasoline blend has been 10 percent ethanol.
The fuel is popular in farm country because most ethanol comes from corn and other grains. It faces strong opposition, however, from the auto industry, environmentalists, cattle ranchers, food companies and a broad coalition of other groups. Those groups say that using corn to make ethanol makes animal feed more expensive, raises prices at the grocery store and tears up the land. There have already been several lawsuits filed against the epa -- including one filed by automakers, boat manufacturers and outdoor power equipment manufacturers -- since the agency decided to allow the higher blends for newer cars in October.
Critics said the change could be frustrating for drivers of older cars who will have to figure out which service station pump to use. And they argue that many retailers will opt not to sell the higher blend because of the expense of adding new pumps and signs.
"it seems like corn growers and the ethanol industry are the only real winners here," said Craig cox of the environmental working group an advocacy group that opposes use of the fuel.
The obama administration has remained supportive of the renewable fuel, and the epa has said a congressional mandate for increase-ed ethanol use can't be achieved without allowing higher percentage blends.congress buoyed a broad coalition of members from farm states, has required refiners to blend 36 billion gallons of biofuels, mostly ethanol into fuel by 2022.
Agriculture secretary Tom vilsack said after the decision that expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline "gives consumers the option of purchasing domestically produced renewable transportation fuels and also support america's farmers and ranchers."
members of the ethanol industry say that use of the fuel can help reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil while boosting a domestic industry and creating jobs. The industry group growth energy petitioned the epa to raise the blend in March 2009. Tom buis, president of the group, said there are still steps to go to get more ethanol on the market.
"ultimately we will get this marketplace open because it's a win for america, a win for consumers and a win for our economy," he said.
The epa has said there won't be a decision any time soon on boosting the ethanol concentration for cars and light trucks manufactured before 2001, or for motorcycles, heavy-duty vehicles or non-road engines because there is not sufficient testing to support such an approval.
The epa has delayed decisions on using 15 percent ethanol several times as the agency and the energy department have tested the ethanol-blended gasoline to make sure it is safe. The agency has approved the blend only for newer cars and trucks because they have more durable emissions systems.
Ethanol burns hotter than gasoline, causing catalytic converters, which help clean engine emissions, to break down faster.
_________________________________________________________________________
ethanol production fueling ‘food inflation’
editor’s note: this article is for informational purposes only; it does not reflect an opinion one way or another.
While rising food prices have been a factor in recent riots in egypt, tunisia and elsewhere, the united states is continuing to increase its use of corn to make ethanol, pushing up grain and meat prices worldwide.
“the global economy is getting back on its feet, but so too is an old enemy: food inflation,” the wall street journal states in an editorial, noting that the united nations benchmark index for food reached a record high in December, “raising fears of shortages and higher prices.”
in 2001, only 7 percent of america’s corn crop, about 707 million bushels, was used to make ethanol fuel for vehicles. By 2010, nearly 40 percent of American corn went for ethanol — almost 5 billion bushels out of total u.s. Production of 12.4 billion bushels.
American farmers account for about 39 percent of global corn production, and about 16 percent of the crop is exported, so america’s ethanol production can influence world prices. March futures for corn recently hit a 30-month high of $6.67 a bushel, up from $4 a bushel a year ago.
Also, since 40 percent of u.s. Corn production is used as animal feed, rising corn prices push up the cost of beef, poultry and other items as well.
“this trend is the deliberate result of policies designed to subsidize ethanol,” and it “coincides with a growing consensus that ethanol achieves none of its alleged policy goals,” the journal observes.
Ethanol supporters claim it reduces American dependence on foreign oil, but a cornell university scientist calculated that even if the entire American crop was used for ethanol, it would satisfy just 4 % of our oil consumption.
And the environmental protection agency has downplayed assertions that ethanol provides a cleaner source of energy than gasoline, saying it “has a minimal to negative impact on the environment,” according to the journal.
The American thinker observed: “today there is a global food shortage and sky-rocketing prices. This has become the underlying factor in the riots in tunisia, algeria and egypt, where up to 56 percent of a person's income is dedicated to the acquisition of food. These riots are now leading to the upheaval of governments and the very real possibility of the ascendancy of the radical elements into control.”
a significant factor “in the overall global food situation is the American decision to, in essence, burn food in its cars, a policy championed by the environmentalists since the 1990s,” American thinker also noted.
“there is no quicker way to foment riots and revolution than to deprive the populace of food, particularly when so much daily income goes into feeding oneself and one's family. The pictures we have seen in north africa May well be repeated elsewhere throughout the world.”
noting that congress recently voted to extend the $5 billion tax credit for blending ethanol into gasoline, the journal concludes: “at a time when the world will need more corn and grains, it makes no sense to devote scarce farmland to make a fuel that exists only because of taxpayer subsidies and mandates.
“if food supplies tighten and prices keep rising, such a policy will soon become immoral.”
