Posted on May 22, 2009 by mastadonzq
In addition to causing more green house emissions in the process of creating ethanol from corn and not getting better gas mileage, apparently ethanol causes expensive damage to engines, the fuel pump in particular. Which makes perfect sense considering that alcohol can be corrosive to plastic and rubber.
So when you see a picture of corn on the side of the gas pump, it’s a bad sign.
Detailed Article
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Filed under: Bio-Fuels, Business, Energy | Tagged: alternative energy, Bio-Fuels, Business, Ethanol, oil, Public Policy | 5 Comments »
Posted on February 8, 2009 by mastadonzq
So in contemplating my thumbs down on bio-fuels, I realize I haven’t been fair by not mentioning where using bio-fuels would be a great idea.
For example I was reading about these little machines that are being marketing as a home bio-fuel producers. The idea is that people will throw their excess alcohol into this machine and it will be converted to ethanol by what is basically just a mini distillery. This is not a good idea. First of all who has significant amounts of alcohol left over? I know I usually finish a beer I open. Even if they could be exclusively marketed to frat-houses I imagine the frat boys would just drink the pure ethanol the machine produces
A good use of the same technology is exemplified by the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company who makes a great IPA among other things. They will convert their excess bio-waste into ethanol and use that to fuel all their delivery trucks. Brilliant!
There are a great many waste products that could be fermented and distilled into fuel and utilizing that kind of synergy would not only save these companies money but could take a chunk out of fossil fuel demand.
References:
Sierra Nevada
EFUEL
Triple Pundit
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Filed under: Bio-Fuels | Tagged: Bio-Fuels, Ethanol, Waste Management | 14 Comments »
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