Do you think ethanol is a feasible alternative fuel for the United States?

Question

In a year, the U.S. consumes about 146 billion gallons of gasoline.
What are your suggestions for replacing our dependence on oil? I know we cannot completely do away with oil, but we could limit our use, so what are our alternatives?



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for the first answer instead of my gall bladder how about some meat and two sides?

We cannot produce enough corn, that is a fact. So what other alternatives do we have?

Thank you all for your answers. i guess we have to start this process with dialogue, and I am willing to listen and to research more on this subject for the betterment of the US and the world in which we live in. again thank-you!

Answer 1

It was a feasible alternative, about 30 years ago.
but now it is obsolete. even while energy comapnies are trying to implement ethanol production facilities, bio-gas fuels are starting to emerge.
as far as ethanol is concerned, the government and the fuel industry, did too little too late, to make it a feasible alternative fuel.
It is already obsolete, or will be by the time it is being used more widely.
and let me give you a little hint:
if you ferment at lower temps, and for longer periods of time, you can increase the amount of ethanol produced per bushel of corn. almost double it. But that isn't economically the better choice for fuel stock holders.
Also, solar energy can be used to distill the product, and the process of making 100% ethanol, isn't required. that is just a game being played by refiners to shove more $$ into their pockets, and make you think it costs more to produce than it does.

some day, man is going to face a choice between the importance of profit, and the importance of efficient rescource utilization.
currently profit is more important, so alot of resources are being wasted for speed of production.
in the future however, efficiency and full utilization of all raw materials, will most likely be the most important. it will be touted by some, as socialism, when fuel industries are being subsidized, or forced to slow their processes, to increase product vs raw materials used.

Answer 2

Ethanol can e a partial solution--but that's all. Here's three suggestions--all of which would help the environment, reduce our use of foreign oil--and help the economy long term:
1) Fuel efficient cars--tht alone could cut our sue of foreign oil by 30%--or more.
2) Quit spending taxpayer money on more roads and start spending it on public transportation--start giving americans some real choices. Deciding which gas hog you want to sit inwhile the traffic is gridlocked isn't much of a choice when you are denied alternative modes of transportation
3) Shift from subsidizing the oil companies to providing tax breaks for individuals and businesses that opt for solar energy or other alternative energy systems.

Answer 3

I think it is a great start. In fact, I always put the unleaded plus in my car even though it costs a few cents more. I am really tired of putting money into the pursues of regimes that hate us.
I hope our country someday eliminates the dependence on foreign oil. what else do they have to market? sand? It would certainly make a huge difference in the world market. Big oil companies will either fight this or get smart and start working on alternatives.
Another helpful thing would be to drive economy cars whenever possible. Gas guzzlers ...well, you know.

Answer 4

Yes.The best fuel for the internal combustion engine is Ethyl or Methyl Alcohols.The efficiency of the car at this time is around 6 to 10% it can be improved to may be 60% that means 60% of heat produced can be converted into mechanical energy.Go to youtube and look for French Air Car you will learn more.

Answer 5

You are correct in your assumption that the current fuel alternatives will not work for us. However there are several promising technologies that allow us to recycle cooking oil into diesel fuel, recycling used motor oil into fuel, and battery technologies. However I don't foresee us being off oil for at least 10+ years.

Answer 6

If you took all the grain produced in the US you would not have enough ethanol to supply 1% of the demand. What you would have is a fuel and people starved nation.

Answer 7

i think of that it incredibly is in all threat not potential, besides the reality that there are some ameliorations which could and in all threat would be made to slender the hollow. a pair of instructions that i think of may be thrilling to locate are: - using plant fibre (cellulose) that's digested right into a fermentable sort, so as that much less efficient agricultural land could grant the uncooked textile, and plant life requiring much less enter could be used through fact the uncooked textile. Hemp is in all threat not a foul candidate for this through fact it additionally has the means to grant a sturdy high quality oil; - using image voltaic stills; - using a rational crop rotation equipment concerning a legume (i. e. soya, alfalfa); Bio-diesels are in all threat a greater robust option. in spite of everything the ultimate attitude is in all threat to shrink means desires. residences could be equipped employing the ambient temperature of the earth to warmth and funky by employing geothermal means and warmth pumps or by development greater underground. There are additionally different techniques that could help, which incorporate: - super image voltaic creditors in area that generate means it incredibly is then despatched right down to earth; - employing all latest nuclear weopons (the nuclear textile is made besides) to gas nuclear reactors till they're all spent. the occasion of the West dismantling its nuclear weapons to create means instead of employing their threat to maintain means grant might additionally pass a protracted thank you to legitimising the nuclear weapons non-proliferation technique in the eyes of the international community. in spite of everything, it incredibly is a challenge which would be with us for a protracted time. authentic now bio-means that took a protracted time to offer (thousands and thousands of years - petroleum) is being ate up in an extremely short quantity time (many years - petroleum marketplace). maximum suitable is to shrink intake. there is not any such element as a perpetual action device.

Answer 8

Not sure if we can keep up with the supply of corn for the ethanol,we still need to feed ourselves,our cattle,and not to mention other countries already griping about the high corn prices..,ie mexico for their corn tortillias.

Answer 9

Only if it can be used to produce fossil fuel.

Answer 10

nicolai tesla said there was eungh power in tbhenorthern light to power everything on earth. then they killed him.