Yep...Sugar Cane Ethanol is Superior
I first learned of Brazil's sugar cane based ethanol from my brother-in-law is from Brazil. Brazil had to subsidize their ethanol industry and perhaps/or perhaps not it is able to stand on its own two legs now. Gas is 45%+ more efficient (ethanol is about 2/3 as efficient as gas) than ethanol as a fuel. Therefore it is CHEAPER to power an engine with gas. Corn ethanol is the pond scum of energy. The energy pecking order goes like this:
Gas > SugarCane-Ethanol > Corn-Ethanol
If congress really wanted to promote ethanol, they would remove tariffs and allow the cheap Brazillian ethanol in this country. Then corn can be used for food and it will become more affordable to ranchers and households. The whole purpose of free trade is to sell what you are good at making in exchange for a product another country is good at making. The Brazillian ethanol is FAR SUPERIOR (cheaper) than corn based ethanol.
US ethanol is just a giant welfare program for rich farmers.... It is that simple.... If the main reason was to decrease our reliance on middle east oil, then we would remove the tariffs and let the Brazillians sell us their ethanol...
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