Why I support E85 and biofuels

While I often criticize corn ethanol I want to make clear that I am a proponent of the E85 and bio-fuel revolution that is going on. But I have to make very clear that it has nothing to do with the benefits to the environment.

By increasing use of bio-fuels, either bio-diesel (from soya, not from used fryer oil) or E85 that will extend the petroleum reserves that the world has. That will mean that crude petroleum will be around for many generations more.

But on a more economic level it will increase our ability to be energy independent. Although that is only possible if the tree hugging environmentalists (funded mostly - ironically- by petroleum dollars) permit the building of new nuclear power plants so we can close the less efficient coal and gas plants. I know a good portion of our wealth is based on petro dollars, but not as much as we send to OPEC countries that we never see again.

Look at Brazil. They should be the most bankrupt, third world nation. But they developed ethanol as their primary fuel, and with their limited oil reserves are virtually energy independent. That makes them able to be a net exporter of fuel by selling ethanol. That means money which helps their beleaguered economy. BONUS: Chavez is threatening... I mean trying to convince... his South American neighbors that they shouldn't try to make money by refining ethanol and become less dependent on him and his cheap oil because they see the money to be made in ethanol. Brazil has got Chavez' panties in a knot because he doesn't have the same influence over Brazil as the other SA countries.

We could still import up to 50% of our decreased oil needs and still have our reserves as well as our coal and shale reserves. Since the break even point on coal cracking is around $65 dollars a barrel and shale at around $75 our decrease in the demand for imported OPEC oil should increase the cost to make it economical to supplement our reserves with coal and shale. Especially if we stop using so much coal for electrical generation. (If we stop buying as much oil they will decrease production and increase prices to keep up their income).

So if you want to talk about bio-fuels as a means to becoming energy independent or even as a means to subsidize farmers by creating a demand for growing crops to be used for ethanol I'm all ears. But to perpetuate the myth that E85 is a green fuel is wrong and I will not let it rest unchallenged. Ethanol is not clean form of energy, it creates a lot carbon dioxide, VOCs and HAPs at the distilling phase and other pollutants when burned. So widespread use will increase ground level ozone and negatively affect air quality in warm weather.

E85 is an alternate fuel, but just because it is "renewable" doesn't make it green.