E85 Boondoggle of the Day: One Ethanol Plant Satisfies The Entire US Market for E85

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

The United States will have the capacity to produce 13 billion gallons of ethanol by the end of 2008. The United Sates will have the capacity to process 12 billions of ethanol by the end of 2008. Oops! This analysis comes to us from Wally Tyner. The agricultural economist for Purdue University predicts that this disparity will force some ethanol plants to reduce or halt production, and drive down the price of ethanol. Controversially, Tyner also suggests that U.S. ethanol over-production could lead to exports. And this is just E10 folks. During a phone interview [podcast below], the prof reveals that America's entire consumption of E85 could be satisfied by the output of ONE ethanol plant. How many do we have now? 100. Tyner agreed that the American ethanol industry couldn't survive without state and federal subsidies. But I suppose you kinda knew that already.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

More by Robert Farago

Comments
Join the conversation
4 of 15 comments
  • Redbarchetta Redbarchetta on Jan 31, 2008

    So here in the south what do they use inplace of the ethanol in the E-10 blend when the temperature is too high? They go back to MTBE or are they using something else. I hate that E-10 crap, it evaporates out of the tank in my bike if I don't ride it for more than 4 days. It make the carb more finiky about the air temp too.

  • Glenn Swanson Glenn Swanson on Jan 31, 2008

    Redbarchetta: ...what do they use in place of the ethanol in the E-10 blend... From what little I've read on the subject... The feds require oil refiners to boost the oxygen content of "summer-blend" gasoline to make it burn more completely, which is why they were adding MTBE. They stopped using MTBE a couple of years ago when it was found seeping into ground water (possibly creating a cause of cancer). When they don't add ethanol (E10), refiners use an (expensive) additive called "alkylate," which is a byproduct of refining. That's my (limited) understanding of it, anyway.

  • Zenith Zenith on Feb 01, 2008

    Despite the hefty subsidies, E85 is VERY expensive to use. In my area, real gas is $3/gallon, while E85 is $2.5-- 16% less than 100% gas. However,flex-fuel cars get only 66% of the mileage with E85 that they get with pure gas. High taxes to cover interest on the Chinese-held government bonds financing ethanol plants PLUS 16% higher vehicle fuel expense PLUS high food costs. Are the powers-that-be stupid, corrupt, or a combination of the two? As to the comments made about poor performance of carbureted equipment on E10, I agree wholeheartedly. My lawnmower barely runs on the stuff and I barely get 1/2 of my yard done on a tankful of the stuff, while pure gas gets the job done down to a small "Mohawk" that I leave in front of the storage shed before going in for a drink while waiting for the mower to cool prior to refilling. Back in the early '90s, my oldest kids shared a big boat of a '78 LTD, and then a carbureted Omni. Whenever one of them complained about hard starting in hot weather my first question was, "You didn't try to save a nickel using that 'super' unleaded again, did you?" And, of couse, the answer was an embarassed nod.

  • Engineer Engineer on Feb 01, 2008
    In my area, real gas is $3/gallon, while E85 is $2.5– 16% less than 100% gas. However,flex-fuel cars get only 66% of the mileage with E85 that they get with pure gas. Somehow that math is way too complicated for the MSM (wonder why the paper isn't selling?), like the time the NYT reported on traveling in the Midwest and reported gas prices and the cheaper E85 prices. They even quoted a clueless E85 buyer (don't you hate those interviews with clueless bystanders?) who said that as long as its 30 to 40 cents cheaper, he thinks he's saving money. Wrong! Think again. BTW, I think E100 has 66% as much energy as gasoline. E85 is all the way up to 75%, thanks to that 15% good stuff.
Next