US program seeks to increase use of E-85 fuel

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

DES MOINES, Iowa — The federal government wants to increase production and use of a higher blend of ethanol fuel by giving financial help to gas stations that install more pumps for the fuel, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in advance of a formal announcement planned for Friday.

Vilsack planned to announce the program at a plant in Greensboro, N.C., that makes pumps for the fuel, known as E-85, which is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Current ethanol blends contain 10 percent ethanol.

Vilsack told The Associated Press the government will use funds from the Rural Energy for American Program to provide financial assistance to gas station owners who install E-85 pumps. The assistance would be through grants and guaranteed loans, he said.

He said President Barack Obama wants the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help ensure 10,000 flex-fuel pumps are available across the country within the next five years. Currently, there are 8 million flexible fuel vehicles are on the nation's roads and 2,300 stations where people can get E-85, Vilsack said.

"The president was pretty clear that he wants to reduce our nation's net dependence on foreign oil by one-third by 2025," Vilsack said. "One way to do that is to increase production and increase use of renewable biofuels."

He said the program will help the U.S. in its effort to achieve the goal of producing 36 billion gallons of biofuels by 2022. The nation currently produces about 13 billion gallons, Vilsack said.

Vilsack said he believes the U.S. has enough production capacity to meet the demand of the expansion effort. "But the more demand we create the more opportunity there will be for those who make the pumps," he added. "There is the side benefit, I believe, for additional job growth."

Vilsack also said Obama has instructed the USDA to finance four biorefineries to produce biofuels from a variety of sources, not just corn. Other possible materials that could be used are agricultural waste, such as corn cobs or husks, switch grass and animal waste, Vilsack said.

"We want to spread this industry to all four corners of the country and not just have it focused in the Midwest," he said.

The funds for the biorefineries will come from existing energy programs contained in the 2008 Farm Bill.

Vilsack planned to make the announcement after touring the Gilbarco Veeder-Root plant in Greensboro on Friday morning. The plant makes E-85 pumps.

The announcement comes a day after the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the leading advocacy group for the auto industry, testified before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that it is willing to work with the ethanol industry to increase ethanol use.

Bob Dineen, chief executive of the Renewable Fuels Association, said using higher ethanol blends "is critical to our national energy goals.

"That means more flexible fuel vehicles, more conventional vehicles using blends about E10, and more blender pumps at gas stations," Dineen said in a written statement.

[T-Bird]

Joe, on a related topic, I talked to a gas distributor the other day and he informed me that by law, he only has to put 1% of extra into regular to make it the plus grade. I know you are like me and use the plus grade....but I won't be buying anymore.  He also told me his high test was straight gas, no ethonal. I will try the high grade and see how it runs.

[NiteRiderF6]

Well, I guess we will be down to 20 Horsepower on our Valks if that flies. I already can't keep my power tools running due to the Ethanol!

[gregc]

The wifes 2007 Monte Carlo was able to use E85. Tried it once, it was about 20 cents a gallon cheaper, and the car went thru a full tank with about 80 miles short of what a tank of gas lasts. So it was really more expensive in the long run.  Never tried it again.

[Sharkey]

Normally you will get 20 to 25% less economy per gallon of E-85. Unleaded is $3.69 here now so E-85 would have to be $2.95 to break even at a 20% loss.

[R J]

Joe, why worry about it, your bikes won't run on it anyway.

This stuff is for the flexfuel vehicles.   Ones manufactured to burn it.

My sister-in-law has a Ford Ranger on her mail route that uses that stuff.   Get the same mileage burning E-85 as she does using the 87 octane gasoline.

Her on the mail route she goes through a ton of fuel, so it is one hell of a savings for her.   Her route is 80% gravel road and they can get crappy in Missouri.

[flcjr]

The whole math behind e85 is junk it takes more than 1 gallon of diesel to produce 1 gallon of ethanol,and if the fed didn't pay the producers of it with your tax dollars it we never be made because the informed wont buy it and it is not even close too as good as gasoline for power or mileage.  If the fed really wanted to end are dependence on foriegn oil the would lift all the bans on offshore drilling and make it easier to drill in the us. They would also encourage new refiniers to be built so we didn't have to import gasoline as well.It is all about the $$$$$$$$ and politics nobody in charge really is looking out for the little guy.We need to vote them ALL out of office and start over.

[f6john]

Joe, why worry about it, your bikes won't run on it anyway.

This stuff is for the flexfuel vehicles.   Ones manufactured to burn it.

My sister-in-law has a Ford Ranger on her mail route that uses that stuff.   Get the same mileage burning E-85 as she does using the 87 octane gasoline.

Her on the mail route she goes through a ton of fuel, so it is one hell of a savings for her.   Her route is 80% gravel road and they can get crappy in Missouri.

        This is the first time I have ever heard anyone getting the same mileage with E-85 that they did with regular gas. I tried it and the fuel gauge dropped so fast I thought it was the second hand on a clock!

[Sharkey]

Joe, why worry about it, your bikes won't run on it anyway.

This stuff is for the flexfuel vehicles.   Ones manufactured to burn it.

My sister-in-law has a Ford Ranger on her mail route that uses that stuff.   Get the same mileage burning E-85 as she does using the 87 octane gasoline.

Her on the mail route she goes through a ton of fuel, so it is one hell of a savings for her.   Her route is 80% gravel road and they can get crappy in Missouri.

        This is the first time I have ever heard anyone getting the same mileage with E-85 that they did with regular gas. I tried it and the fuel gauge dropped so fast I thought it was the second hand on a clock!

BTU's per gallon Look up GGE Gasoline Gallon Equivelant
Ethanol (E85) 1.39 US gallons 81,800 BTU/gal
Gasoline 114,500 BTU/gal
I also have a 2000 model Ranger with the flex fuel, and live in Missouri also. My mileage is down 25% over gas. My wifes Suburban is also a flex fuel she gets around 18% less out of it.
I work in the gasoline industry, and have for the last 17 years. We will look back  50 years from now and realize bio fuels were the scam of the century. Bio Diesel and corn based E-85 are a joke.
Brazil does it much better with Sugar Cane http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel_in_Brazil

[3fan4life]

I work in the gasoline industry, and have for the last 17 years. We will look back  50 years from now and realize bio fuels were the scam of the century. Bio Diesel and corn based E-85 are a joke.
Brazil does it much better with Sugar Cane

Corn is the absolute WORST choice for Ethanol production.

It produces the least "Bang" for the buck.

Additonally the diversion of corn for ethanol production causes the price of livestock feed to increase, which in turn causes the price of everything in the meat case @ the grocery store to increase.

There are many better sources for ethanol production.

If they could only find a way to produce ethanol from Kudzo.

Georgia would be richer than Saudi Arabia ever thought of being.   
   

[X Ring]

If they could only find a way to produce ethanol from Kudzo.

Georgia would be richer than Saudi Arabia ever thought of being.   
   

Ain't that the dam truth.  Just about all the Deep South would be swimming in money.

Marty