Thread: Its final..corn ethanol is of no use.
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dpb dpb is offline
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Default Its final..corn ethanol is of no use.
On 4/26/2014 8:42 AM, wrote:
....

Please explain if that is true , why Congress has to mandate ethanal useage.
If it were really cheaper the oil companies would do it so they would make more money.


From the EIA site...

"U.S. corn ethanol production grew considerably from 2006 through 2012,
boosted by the phase-out of the use of Methyl tertiary-butyl ether
(MTBE) as an oxygenate and octane enhancer, the availability of blender
tax credits, and rising oil prices. Ethanol production and use grew
beyond levels called for by the RFS as early as 2006. U.S. ethanol
production and use continued at rates beyond the RFS-mandated level
through mid-2012. ..."

Hence, in fact, they _are_ using more than the mandate calls for.

It's (like virtually everything in real world, particularly those that
are part of public policy) complicated. The mandate really isn't
ethanol per se, it's "renewable fuel" that's mandated. It just so
happens that current technology, the existence of a large fleet of
gasoline engine vehicles such that whatever fuel alternative used had to
be compatible and feed stocks available for renewable fuels in the US
favor corn ethanol at the moment.

Biodiesel and all are included as well; they just don't get the
attention ethanol does as soybeans aren't as cute, apparently.

Yes that is how it saves money. It costs money and energy
to boost octane by converting low octane petroleum
fractions to higher octane fractions.

Cite?
....

That's easily found and well-known and has been in the earlier
subthreads in this thread as well. I wouldn't say it in precisely those
terms but increased refining to build octane from crude oil itself
definitely hurts yield. Refiners used additives for the purpose from
the very beginning; the widespread use of tetraethyl lead began in the
early 20s or thereabouts to allow for increased compression that was
needed for higher performance and thus needed higher octane-rated fuels
to inhibit knocking. MTBE was the primary substitute of choice when
unleaded was mandated owing to lead's deleterious health effects and
contamination until it was determined to be as bad or worse for it's
propensity to contaminate water supplies when spilled and carcinogenic
nature. Hence, it also went the way of the dodo bird and ethanol has
the facility to raise octane and meet RFIS as well as lower emissions of
nitrous oxides, etc., ... So, at the moment it's the deal.

When and if something better comes along, it'll surely take it's moment
in the sun as well...

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