thinger
Posted November 12, 2007
As most of us know, Ethanol is a renewable fuel and gasoline is a fossil fuel. Gasoline cannot be renewed and isnt environmentally friendly. However using Ethanol will mean car engines will burn cleaner and allowing your vehicle to run smoother. Also, Ethanol use will lower carbon dioxide emissions, ensuring a cleaner environment. More specifically, Manitoba will be less dependent on imported gasoline. As you have read, there are a lot of positive outcomes for using Ethanol. There are also negative ones. But first I will talk about the positives.
Ethanol is often blended with gasoline to increase octane a fuel additive that prevents engine knocking. When fuel combusts from compression instead of ignition, it causes engine knocking. and reduce tailpipe emissions. This alternative energy source is clean, efficient and renewable. During 1973, the United States imported approximately 28 percent of its oil from foreign countries. Today, that number has more than doubled to approximately 60 percent, not including an additional 10 percent of imported refined product. What's worse, the United States imports crude oil from regions of the world that are politically unstable. Now, thanks to Ethanol Americans no longer have to rely as much on foreign oil, however, to meet their transportation needs. Because of the nation's emerging ethanol industry, American dollars can now flow to farmers in the Midwest instead of to oil cartels in the Middle East. Also, Ethanol acts as a super octane booster. This means that gas refiners can add ethanol to gas to produce greater amounts of suboctane fuel with a rating of less than 87. Usually the octane rating is 113. Another point is, by blending ethanol with gasoline, it increases volume of the fuel that will be purchase. This would extend fuel supplies and will help meet the increasing demand for auto fuel andhelp reduce U.S. dependence of forein crude oil.
All in all, ethanol is a very renewable and friendly source to the environment. It will help deal with the issue of importing fuel from foreign places and using their oil.
Now, for the disadvantages. Ethanol fuel may not really affect peoples air or their environment but is an expensive nuisance and even a danger to boat owners, builders and repairers. Ethanol was widely introduced to the US market in 2005 and they have had 2 years experience with the impact our society, including the marine industry. For the marine industry, there isn't a good reaction. Ethanol is a solvent that doesn't mix well with MTBE, a fuel lingering in some tanks. It scours fuel systems, overburdening filters, it breaks down fiberglass fuel tanks and it rapidly absorbs water from atmospheric humidity, giving fuel only a brief shelf life. Ethanol use is changing the way gasoline powered boats are maintained, serviced, used and regarding some components, "constructed". Pretty much meaning the cost has risen and shouldnt be, if boaters were allowed to use regular gasoline.
An article from the CBC News website states that The rising demand for corn as a source of ethanol-blended fuel is largely to blame for increasing food costs around the world, and Canada is not immune, say industry experts. Food prices have risen dramatically, mainly because of prices of corn, wheat and other field grown crops.
Resources
http://www.gov.mb.ca/est/energy/ethanol/ethanolfaq.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel
http://www.pandaethanol.com/products/ethanol-advantages.html
http://www.daybreakfishing.com/ethanol-fuel.html
