usatoday.com— While much of the world fumes over escalating fuel prices, a small company in north central Iowa is quietly hoping to make gasoline obsolete as an engine fuel.
May 20, 2006View in Crawl 4
This is great, but does anybody ever try to make magnet powered engines, that require no fuel at all? I just think it is possible to make a completely fuel less engine that will run forever, but no body ever tries, at least not as hard as this guy has. Does anybody agree?
Making arguments against ethanol is fine, semantically, but what some people not native to the Midwest don't understand is that there is, yearly, a huge surplus of corn that has suddenly found a use as fuel. If, as Iowans, we can't sell all our product to China, Russia or others, why not convert it into something useable?Iowa City here, glad to see all you Iowans on Digg.
Because Some idiots modded him down : TokachuThe Federal government pays subsides (a.k.a. welfare) to keep the price down. In reality, corn ethanol is about 50� more expensive per gallon than unleaded gasoline.Let me put it this way: if taxes and subsides were thrown out tomorrow, regular 87-octane gasoline would sell for about $1.95 a gallon. 89-octane would sell for about $2.10. Corn ethanol would sell for at least $2.45. Which one would you buy?Flagged as "inaccurate."
As an Iowan, I can say that the government subsidy on ethanol is not nearly as bad since a large number of Iowans use it. It *is* a loss, and any form of government coercion is bad, including this. Many farmers in Iowa still get subsidies for not growing anything, and IMHO, I see that as a huge problem too. There are, however, a lot of Japanese that are interested in buying purely organic food from our state, and current federal government laws prohibt or impose massive tariffs on that.I think that's where there's a really deep anti-federal government feel throughout the state, we've been neglected for so long and don't want the fed to help us, just to get the hell out of our way. I wish other states would focus less on what the federal government can do for them and work with states like ours to limit its influence and power.
anything organic that contains sugar as I understand, so yes I think sap would work fine, But where are you gunna get 100 million barrels of syrup per day?( would be better than corn though.) anyone from Vermont? how fast can syrup be produced.(sorry unconnected thoughts)
The lack of concern in Washington has been a throne in my side for some time. So, I've decide to give individuals a collective place to make themselves heard. Have your friends sign up at FuelShout.comThere you can report gas prices in your area, start or join a car pool club, or shout about the high price of gas, and much more. The goal is to either force Washington to make a change or put a major dent in the pockets of Big Oil companies. The website's in beta, but I'm granting early access to those that register.
whoa, whoa, WHOA!Just to set the record straight... Also, see some fellow Iowans, feel free to corroborate this...This is a STATE subsidy in IOWA to promote more use of E10 blended gas... So, Iowans are paying for it - no one else from any other state! Do subsidies work for this? he11 if I know. But we do know the gas stations can pump E10 now. So one of the barriers to entry for suppliers down, one more step closer to distributing E85. Also, just this year, an investor group started investing and gathering more funding for another ethanol production facility in Iowa, as told on KUNI public radio... (I think near Cedar Rapids was it?) so at least it's generated enough interest both for producers to invest in production, and distributors to deliver it to the gas stations. As a consumer, I don't think I've pumped 87 octane since I moved to Iowa...Now out of state folks I know (family/friends visiting), so used to thinking the cheaper price listed on the big signs on the street corner is for the 87 octane blend, and so they pump it. So I'd say there's probably a good chance that many passing thru / visiting drivers are not taking advantage of this subsidy while they visit - darn... I just gave our secret away :)
mcottierMay 21, 2006
This is great, but does anybody ever try to make magnet powered engines, that require no fuel at all? I just think it is possible to make a completely fuel less engine that will run forever, but no body ever tries, at least not as hard as this guy has. Does anybody agree?
fadkingMay 21, 2006
Making arguments against ethanol is fine, semantically, but what some people not native to the Midwest don't understand is that there is, yearly, a huge surplus of corn that has suddenly found a use as fuel. If, as Iowans, we can't sell all our product to China, Russia or others, why not convert it into something useable?Iowa City here, glad to see all you Iowans on Digg.
azermuffinMay 21, 2006
Because Some idiots modded him down : TokachuThe Federal government pays subsides (a.k.a. welfare) to keep the price down. In reality, corn ethanol is about 50� more expensive per gallon than unleaded gasoline.Let me put it this way: if taxes and subsides were thrown out tomorrow, regular 87-octane gasoline would sell for about $1.95 a gallon. 89-octane would sell for about $2.10. Corn ethanol would sell for at least $2.45. Which one would you buy?Flagged as "inaccurate."
yornMay 21, 2006
As an Iowan, I can say that the government subsidy on ethanol is not nearly as bad since a large number of Iowans use it. It *is* a loss, and any form of government coercion is bad, including this. Many farmers in Iowa still get subsidies for not growing anything, and IMHO, I see that as a huge problem too. There are, however, a lot of Japanese that are interested in buying purely organic food from our state, and current federal government laws prohibt or impose massive tariffs on that.I think that's where there's a really deep anti-federal government feel throughout the state, we've been neglected for so long and don't want the fed to help us, just to get the hell out of our way. I wish other states would focus less on what the federal government can do for them and work with states like ours to limit its influence and power.
iboxMay 21, 2006
anything organic that contains sugar as I understand, so yes I think sap would work fine, But where are you gunna get 100 million barrels of syrup per day?( would be better than corn though.) anyone from Vermont? how fast can syrup be produced.(sorry unconnected thoughts)
damonhenryMay 22, 2006
The lack of concern in Washington has been a throne in my side for some time. So, I've decide to give individuals a collective place to make themselves heard. Have your friends sign up at FuelShout.comThere you can report gas prices in your area, start or join a car pool club, or shout about the high price of gas, and much more. The goal is to either force Washington to make a change or put a major dent in the pockets of Big Oil companies. The website's in beta, but I'm granting early access to those that register.
sandrat44May 22, 2006
whoa, whoa, WHOA!Just to set the record straight... Also, see some fellow Iowans, feel free to corroborate this...This is a STATE subsidy in IOWA to promote more use of E10 blended gas... So, Iowans are paying for it - no one else from any other state! Do subsidies work for this? he11 if I know. But we do know the gas stations can pump E10 now. So one of the barriers to entry for suppliers down, one more step closer to distributing E85. Also, just this year, an investor group started investing and gathering more funding for another ethanol production facility in Iowa, as told on KUNI public radio... (I think near Cedar Rapids was it?) so at least it's generated enough interest both for producers to invest in production, and distributors to deliver it to the gas stations. As a consumer, I don't think I've pumped 87 octane since I moved to Iowa...Now out of state folks I know (family/friends visiting), so used to thinking the cheaper price listed on the big signs on the street corner is for the 87 octane blend, and so they pump it. So I'd say there's probably a good chance that many passing thru / visiting drivers are not taking advantage of this subsidy while they visit - darn... I just gave our secret away :)