Date:         Thu, 17 Oct 2002 09:46:15 -0700
Reply-To:     Bill N <freeholder@STARBAND.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill N <freeholder@STARBAND.NET>
Subject:      Re: Turbo Diesel Power and Economy - global efficiency Q?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

In Arizona we get the ethanol blend every winter -- there is no choice -- and it seems to have no effect on my vehicles as far as performance or fuel economy.  I mostly wanted to point out that the production of these fuels has an environmental cost that is often not considered.  I don't say it is a bad idea.  I do say we have to look at the whole picture, not just pollution levels at the vehicle.  So many things have multiple facets to consider.  For example, if we increase the demand and raise the price of wheat, as you suggest, poor people can afford less bread.  We are going to end up subsidizing either wheat growers or hungry people.

Some of the listmembers will recall from a previous thread that I am an absolute proponent of capitalism.  Nevertheless, when you are considering starving people and global pollution, you want to get it right.  Matt Bulley probably has the best idea -- live someplace that allows walking most of the time and reduce miles driven.  For me, this falls under the category of "take my advice, I won't be using it," since I am getting ready to go fix a few widely separated computers today and will put over 300 miles on my vehicle before my workday ends.

Bill
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: George Thorburn 

  The price farmers are receiving for grains and oil seeds are at the lowest levels since the 1930's.  (not including US and European subsidies)  One of the ways to increase the return on these commodities is to increase the demand for them by finding new uses for them.  There is a lot of interest in building plants to turn corn and wheat into ethanol to be used in a blend with gasoline (5 or 10%).  This is said to make the gas burn more cleanly with less CO2 etc. Also the waste grain from the ethanol process is used as cattle feed.  (this where a large amount of the corn and wheat produced goes anyway)
  The questions are the same ones you asked.  However if the world population will not pay the farmers a living wage to produce food them who can blame the farmers for trying to grow fuel.
  I have been burning ethanol blended gasoline in my van this year and I have noticed no good or bad effects.