It seems that we share similar thoughts.

I have been searching for sites have content related to radio control racing hobbies to tell them about the Engine Analysis Software for tuning all Nitro RC Engines.

http://strategicthought-charles77.blogspot.com/2008/09/john-mccain-to-support-drilling-in-anwr.html

Presently, we need to return to oil/natural gas and at the same time use alternatives as a substitute until the technology increases efficiency. We do not have the capability in technology and infrastructure to replace oil/gasoline as the liberals and special interests desire.

I think (inadvertently maybe) you have hit upon one of the other reasons why corn (and related grain) prices have spiked up — more people in the world want to eat meat.

With regard to your comments about leaning out the fuel/air ratio, all I can say is that perhaps you need to look more closely at the properties of different ethanol/gasoline blends. What you say about ethanol reducing mileage by 20-25% is accurate when too much of it is added to the fuel mixture. But it is also true that when added in a percentage of 1-2% it does enhance the amount of oxygen (and hydrogen) available to more completely combust the gasoline in the mixture. Ethanol has lower energy density than gasoline, but higher octane. The difference is key, i.e., important when considering the trade-offs inherent in different blends.

But as far as I know the rest of what you said is largely BS. But I invite you to convince me otherwise.

ethanol increases the amount of oxygen in the exhaust…have you noticed? it causes a vehicles emissions system to lean out the fuel/air ratio…and the drop in mileage is 20-25%…AND…increased carbon in the exhaust…so..corn…and ethanol as a general concept is like putting the cart in front of the horse….because you use more gas by mixing it with ethanol than by just using gas alone….

funny how that rush to a cure works…the automotive industry knows full well how ethanol affects emissions systems….and didnt mention it to congress one time when they debated the eficacy of ethanol….now…32 years ago…it was no problem…most vehicles were carburated…no mass air flow sensor…no manifold air pressure sensor…nor oxygen sensors…and you could adjust the carburator to maximize the air flow…

but corn….all this is doing is causing undue hardship on the economy by increasing food costs because corn…just became more valuable…not because it helps anything…but so someone could make a buck…a con job….a basic lie and we all fell for it…

Yes.

5 billion gallon/year ethanol harvest??

My understanding of ethanol is that is take 500lbs of corn to make approximately 25 gallons of ethanol. So our yearly corn harvest is 100 billion pounds just for ethanol. I also read that 30% of our corn is for food stocks, so 70% is used for ethanol? So we harvest, ~140 billion pounds of corn/year?

While I think you have your percentages reversed (i.e., I think 30% of our corn is for ethanol, 70% for food) I haven’t gone so deep as to figure out the relationship between pounds of corn and gallons of ethanol. I don’t even think it matters. Gallons ethanol per hectare yes, gallons ethanol per gallon water used yes, gallons ethanol per gallon transportation fuel expended to plow, grow, harvest, and transport the stuff yes, gallons ethanol per cubic meter of fertilizer and pesticides yes — all that stuff is more relevant than gallons/pound — and not very favorable towards grain based ethanol. That’s the down side. And it’s a significant down side by any measure. No question about it.

On the other hand, if the distilleries that now exist to process grain-based ethanol can eventually be used to process switchgrass, papermill waste, landscape waste, and/or organic waste (garbage, old tires, etc.), the equation changes significantly, don’t you think? It’d be really nice to recoup something useful out of things previously considered waste, don’t you think?

I’d say so. But the next question is… how likely is it? That’s a MUCH more difficult question. At present there are a number of companies that have completed the “proof of concept” phase and are engaged in building pilot plants and/or limited commercial scale plants. I’m guessing that some of them will be successful, but I’m also getting impatient. After a while you start getting tired of hearing about the typical “2-3 years away” projection without actually seeing something productive. But when quite a few alternatives appear to be right on the cusp of actually coming through, it becomes a very hard decision.

I wish I had all the answers, but I don’t. I’m sure of very few things. But one thing I’m sure of is there is a HUGE amount of money in alternative energy that will only continue to grow in the foreseeable future. To my mind, that alone is enough to pursue it aggressively. Granted, how that can be accomplished most efficiently is open to question. But that’s the level of discussion that needs to be had, IMO.

My question still stands ~13.8 million gallon/day in gasoline saving is due to what? Ethanol?

IF so:

5 billion gallon/year ethanol harvest??

My understanding of ethano is that is take 500lbs of corn to make approximately 25 gallons of ethanol. So our yearly corn harvest is 100 billion pounds just for ethanol. I also read that 30% of our corn is for food stocks, so 70% is used for ethanol? So we harvest, ~140 billion pounds of corn/year?

In #54 I AGAIN said “gallons” when I meant “barrels”. I said, “The fact is, according to the most optimistic EIA estimates, opening up every area that is currently restricted is likely to improve domestic oil supply by about 1 million gallons/day at maximum output sometime around 2020 or so. CAFE is likely to reduce oil demand by about 5.5 million gallons/day by 2016, and by about 9 million gallons/day by 2020.”

Good grief! Anyway, just replace every instance of the word “gallon” in the above with “barrel”. Then it reads accurately.