E85 Boondoggle Of The Day: Cost-Benefit Analysis


Government fleet purchases are a major factor in keeping the ethanol crazy-train rolling. Not to mention damning evidence of ethanol's inviability on the free market. But even local governments who hoped that cheap ethanol would reduce costs and support energy independence are beginning to realize that switching to corn juice just brings lower mileage and higher food prices. In fact, the Times Herald-Record reports that Orange County, NY actually did the math and found that the 25 percent reduction in efficiency with ethanol outweighed any benefits. And that's not even including the costs of installing a new pump and fuel tank. And keep in mind we're not talking about some business that is continuously hacking away at its bottom line. Governments are usually more than happy to spend a little extra on something like ethanol that will provide a "we're doing the right thing" PR buzz. Indeed, E85 has come as far as it has based largely on government fleet purchases made as political favors to the ethanol alliance. Now that local governments can no longer justify ethanol's shocking inefficiency, the party seems to be winding up. And not a moment too soon.
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SunnyvaleCA, I know, in California, hydrogen produced by solar power and plug in hybrids are the answer.
Does the cost benefit scenarios include the engine lasting twice as long because the oil isn't contaminated from the Gas impurities? Does the cost benefit scenarios include cuting your oil changes in half because or oil stays cleaner longer? Does the cost benefit scenarios include a proper mileage figure for a car the is built to run on ethanol higher octane? Does the cost benefit scenarios include the cost of being vaporized for funding the nuclear ambitions of an ememy sworn to God to eliminate the US due to its sinful nasty life style?
> I guess we do live in a capitalist society. I wish we did.