The Ethanol Papers - Paperturn manuscript - Flipbook - Page 233
I'm sorry to say that you're wrong about the corn's net energy gain or loss. The
information that you're using to base the opinion on was incorrect in some instances, and outdated in others.
However, the real point to make is that no "energy" resource comes without the
expenditure of energy, and gasoline is terrible. In fact, gasoline takes more energy to produce than ethanol. The studies done to counter the Pimentel-Patzek
hatchet job studies show this. Google Bruce Dale and you'll find this information.
Dale participated in a televised debate against Pimentel and Patzek and you
can watch it in its entirety by CLICKING HERE.
It is true that some environmental groups oppose ethanol, and it's primarily because they are still relying on the wrong EROEI information.
In addition, the "energy density" between ethanol and gasoline, or ethanol produced from sugar vs. corn is irrelevant. MPG is a result of energy optimization,
not fuel BTU content.
Reply from SIMON JOHN (to the comments made by WRENCHER):
Brazil's ethanol fuels are based on sugar cane and are quite different. Mechanics all agree ethanol causes problems particularly in older vehicles and should
never be used in boats.
Reply from MARC:
SJ - Fuel ethanol is fuel ethanol. It doesn't matter if it's made from corn or sugar
or beets or sorghum. To suggest that an engine and fuel system parts react
differently is ludicrous. The engine does not say "Yeech, this tastes like bourbon, I want rum."
Regarding your other incorrect admonishment of using ethanol-gasoline blends
in boats, you might want to read/listen to the Mercury Marine Ethanol Webinar.
The full webinar can be found by CLICKING HERE.
An abbreviated version of the Mercury webinar results can be found by CLICKING HERE
