The Ethanol Papers - Paperturn manuscript - Flipbook - Page 456
ever hear about any subject. They use science fiction. I can't imagine why
someone who hides their name and occupation would engage in this behavior
since it's unlikely that they can turn in an expense sheet to the American Petroleum Institute for services rendered.
Moreover, why would a neutral reader of the absurd post want to believe someone who won't provide some personal identification and credentials?
One such amateur with a YouTube video blames problems on ethanol because
it's "acidic" and causes corrosion. Ethanol is not acidic, and I guess he didn't
stop to think about water, which also causes corrosion, and is not acidic. Another amateur critic of ethanol with a YouTube video claims that ethanol contains particles of corn (he holds up a glass jar for everyone to see), and that it
is these particles that cause blockage of the fuel system. If his ethanol-gasoline
fuel has solid particles in it it's because the oil company that blended and distributes the fuels did something very wrong, not because of ethanol. This ridiculous explanation defies all understanding of science and the distillation process.
Not all of the amateur boo-birds take on anonymity and silly screen names,
some do use real names to go along with their own outrageous lies and exaggerations about ethanol. Still, understanding what benefit these folks get from
spreading outlandish information is beyond me.
Case in point: I recently came across one such knucklehead who has no shame
in revealing his identity. His name is Jack Flobeck and he wrote an article that
was published in The Gazette, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Colorado Springs newspaper (so they say). The story was published on September 22, 2013, under
the title "The Water And Corn Cost For A Gallon Of Ethanol." The reason I only
recently came across this article is that it was just used by a member of our
audience as an authoritative expose' against ethanol.
Mr. Flobeck, by the way, identifies himself as "the founder of Aqua Prima Center, a nonprofit think tank for water research."
In the article, Mr. Flobeck tries to make the case that too much water is needed
to make ethanol, in particular how much water is required to grow corn. Right
at the top of the article, Mr. Flobeck writes:
