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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

D.C. Chuckle

The cost of the review of ethanol is a measly $1m. Why has it taken so many years to have this study? More importantly, what happens if this study shows that ethanol is proven to be a dud? Answer:

No later than 30 days after the assessment is completed, EPA would be required to submit a report to the Congress, indicating whether the agency agrees with the study’s findings. The NAS and EPA would have 18 months from the time of enactment to complete the study. Mid-level ethanol blends could not be sold until after EPA issues its assessment report.

A few data points on ethanol:

- 10% of all gasoline sold contains ethanol. That comes to 13 billion gallons of alcohol, $25-30b of cash flow a year.

- The energy content of ethanol is 33% less efficient than gasoline by volume.

- Using E10 (10% ethanol) reduces mileage by 3.3%.

Americans drive 3 Trillion miles a year (incredible). If all of the drivers used blended gas containing 10% ethanol it would mean that the reduced efficiency would cost drivers 100b miles a year, or $350B. The actual losses to drivers is less than that calculation as not all gas consumed has ethanol, but the number that consumers pay as a result of ethanol is well in excess of $50b - serious money.

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6 comments:

  1. Yet another example of government inefficiency.

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  2. More money down the drain.

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  3. This post keeps referring to 'mid-level" ethanol blends...does that mean that premium fuels do not contain ethanol?

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  4. Thats too much math for our "leaders". Now, if ya broke it down into how many bribes each of them could take from various entities, multipy it by the number of years of "service", then divide it by the number of people who will get a cut, well, THERE is some math they could wrap their small minds around -- their hands are too busy raking in the cash. Does any of this -- ANY OF IT -- sound like something we sent them there to do?

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  5. Please. allow me to do the study.

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  6. I know my mileage has dropped 50% with ethanol @ 10%. I hate it. Mileage has always been the one determining factor in vehicle choice.

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