Originally Posted by
SigmaChris
http:///forum/post/2482588
I have a follow up question...I am not trying to debate you, just trying to get a better idea for myself.
Using ball park numbers since I don't shop for Ethynol. My understanding is that Ethynol is cheaper to buy than gas, but the miles per gallon is 15% to 20% less efficient.
87 Octane Gas sells for $3.00 per gallon here in Cincinnati.
Ethynol gas sells for $2.50
How does Ethynol sell for less if it costs more to produce? Is the government subsidizing Ethynol or is there another factor that I am not seeing?
Once again, not trying to debate or disprove you, just trying to understand.
Thanks,
Chris
Ethanol isn't wrapped up in politics, nor does it have the disapproval of environmentalists. This is probably the best argument against using oil. Ethanol is produced locally, and yes it is partially subsidized. We haven't built any new refineries nor do utilize vary many local sources of oil in fact due to several fairly new mandates gas can't be produced as cheaply as it used to be. Sans OPEC, sans politics, gas would be very cheap again.
Also don't forget that ethanol only works for a defined size of population. On a large scale, ie like oil, ethanol would be extremely expensive due to the cost of production, fertilizers. I also point out the fact that vegetables don't produce as much photosynthesis as do grass and trees, thus the the reallocation of land for corn growing.
Lastly, look around you, at least 90% of the things you see around you are derived from oil. The prices of these things would sky rocket if we didn't refine oil in the volume that we do. I'm all for decreasing oil dependency so that we can utilize oil for plastics, etc. I just don't think this needs to be a media/marketing matter. With time someone will find something that really is beneficial, but until then our current alternatives are useless.
