Ethanol, a renewable and alternative fuel produced right here in North Dakota. Ethanol is blended with gasoline to help reduced the consumption of foreign oil. We here, in the US, are to dependent on foreign oil and have to learn to realize the time is here for an alternative fuel, with prices of gasoline getting out of hand.
Look at Brazil for example, they have got to the point of not being dependent on foreign oil. They have their choice of fuels, and ethanol is by far the leader here in fuels. Brazil produces its ethanol out sugarcane, Brazil is the leader in production of cane sugar. Ethanol can be produced from all the following; sugar beets,potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn cobs, corn, hemp, switch grass, grain, paper, straw and the list goes on.
Here in the US, corn is used the most right now to produce ethanol. Every aspect of what to use in the production of ethanol is being checked into to see what is the most feasible way to produce this product.
Sugar beet growers in the area here are more than likely going to have to plow under 10% of their crop. You ask why? Well it is because of a record crop in the making. Here in North Dakota and in Minnesota the season has been very favorable for beet farmers. According to projections by American Crystal Sugar Spokespeople, this year may be the biggest crop to ever be harvested in the Red River Valley.
It is said after all said and done the crop could exceed 11 million tons. Wow, that's is a lot of sugar beets. If we were able to make ethanol from these beets they wouldn't have to go to waste. We are not like Brazil, capable of using sugar beets to make fuel. In time most any vegetation will be used in the production of ethanol.
The use of ethanol as fuel does have its disadvantages, such as, when used as E-85 ethanol, gas mileage drops somewhat and allows 27% less miles per gallon. When used blended in 10-20 % formulas it is not as noticeable. The lower mileage should be considered when making price comparisons. For example when gas sells for $3.00 a gallon and E-85 sells for 2.19 per gallon, the prices are pretty much the same. Researchers are working on ways to increase fuel efficiency by optimizing engines for these renewable fuels.
Many countries are now mandating the use of ethanol blended in gasoline. Percentages differ depending where, but most places are putting a 10% blend into place. Other places are using more ethanol to replace their use and dependency on foreign oil.
Here in the US, General Motors says they have over 2 million vehicles on the road capable of using E-85 gas.E-85 fuel is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Gm also says they will be producing 400,000 flexible fuel vehicles per year.
Below are some links I hope you can find useful, to other areas in the renewable and alternatives fuels field. |
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