Burlington High School

Burlington Kansas

Teacher: Mrs. Devra Parker

 2nd

Gas, Gas, and More Gas

By: Brande Iseman

Senior, 12th Grade

 

"Eureka! I just hit a jackpot of gold!" were the words of many American farmers in the early years of petroleum oil. The agriculturists were happy to know that the newly found oil would put their checkbook back into the black after the crops were harvested, and they immediately installed the pumps needed to excavate it. Driving through the Midwest now, though, I see many old, rusted pumps from the 1980's, when the oil commodity exploded through[out] the plains. Rarely, do I see a pump working. So, what is the explanation for this decline? Scientists have made many new discoveries within the last century that could lead to a new alternative fuel.

 

First, to help us understand this steady decline in the use of gasoline, we must explore some of the reasons why scientists first decided to experiment with alternative fuels. One of the biggest concerns in the world is global warming. When the oil is burned as gasoline in cars, then it produces a gas.  Carbon Dioxide is called a "green house gas," meaning it has been directly linked to global warming. According to the EPA, "The tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks — unburned hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide — account for almost a third of the air pollution in the U.S. Driving alternative fueled vehicles could reduce the level of vehicle emissions." Another concern many residents of the United States have is [exhaust]ing all of the petroleum oil. The oil is a nonrenewable resource, and we are consuming it faster than it is being harvested. We have no way to speed up the process of making the oil, so as cars become more and more popular, we become closer and closer to using up the last of the oil. Scientists have studied many possibilities for alternative fuels and, of course, there are a couple that have more benefits than others.

 

One of the most [popular] alternative fuels is ethanol. It is booming industry in Brazil and is growing more popular in the United States. Ethanol is a renewable resource. It can be made from the waste products of farming, such as, corn husks, wood chips, switch grass, and other agricultural waste. Now, when we break down the ethanol chemically, it is identical to alcohol. Many automotive producers have already equipped their cars with ethanol-capable engines. GM is even starting a new marketing campaign for ethanol by making yellow gas caps for ethanol-ready vehicles. The company is hoping it will increase their car sales and promote ethanol. Of course, other fuels have been researched by scientists too, and among these are methane, electricity, hydrogen, and biodiesel.

 

On the other hand, there are a few drawbacks to alternative fuels. Brazil experienced a major drought in 1990 which caused a devastating sugar cane shortage. Many ethanol car owners found themselves without gas, but today our technologies have created a flex-fuel engine. The engine allows the driver to fuel up with gasoline or ethanol. Civilians have also experienced slow starts on chilly mornings and corrosion.

 

So, what is being done to help the scientists trying to develop alternative fuels?  Congress has looked into the problem of an alternative fuel source. They passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to help "combat growing energy problems. It provides incentives for traditional energy production as well as newer, more efficient energy technologies, and conservation." [The preceding] is a summary of the bill according to Wikipedia. Basically, the bill will give people, or companies, tax breaks if they show that they are being more energy efficient.  If an individual or a company buys a hybrid vehicle or energy efficient heaters/air conditioners, [they] can get tax breaks, for example.  The majority of criticisms of this bill are because the changes that it is making are not going to happen overnight. The price of gasoline will not drop overnight; it will take time and cooperation from the public for this to occur.

 

I completely support Congress trying to help the energy crisis.  People need to open their eyes and realize that the world is changing; our old ways are dying.  There is a bright future ahead of us if we work together and brainstorm new ideas for technology.  I believe that an alternative fuel is definitely needed. Petroleum oil is a dying resource; it is environmentally damaging to our atmosphere and has been directly linked to…global warming.  For those reasons, I believe that ethanol is an obvious choice.  It will benefit the small farming operations by providing another source of income for crops that may not have yielded as well as they had hoped.  An ethanol plant has already been constructed near my home in the hopes that it is a growing trend in America.

Works Cited

 

http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/hev/about.html

1 very informative, heavy pro reform bias

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_policy_act_of_2005

1 very informative, no side taken

 

http://www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm

3 some what informative, no side taken

 

http://www.eere.energy.gov/

3 some what informative, slight pro reform bias

 

http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/biodiesel_basics/default.shtm

1 very informative, heavy pro reform bias

         

 

Questions Based on Required Reading

 

Q1- Gassahol is a byproduct exclusively from corn     and   sugar cane whereas cellulosic ethanol can be produced from agricultural waste such as prairie switch grass, woodchips and cornhusks.

 

Q2- Why did auto makers produce cars that could operate using ethanol as well as gasoline before there was an adequate number of service stations that could provide ethanol?

          The automakers produced flex-fuel cars so that when ethanol becomes a more popular means of fuel, the cars will be able to run using that gas.  Also, at the gas stations that sell the fuel the flex-fuel car owners will be able to save money by buying ethanol.  In Brazil, the flex-fuel engines helped avoid problems that plagued ethanol cars, such as; balky starts on cold mornings, weak pickup, and corrosion.  In addition, the automakers were able to get a break from fuel-economy standards.    

 

Q3- When were the first cars produced that were capable of using ethanol?

          The first cars that were able to operate with ethanol fuel were assembled in 1979.

 

Q4- In a paragraph, describe Brazil’s experience with ethanol.  What did the Fortune article claim was Brazil’s key to success?

          Brazil has had good luck with ethanol.  They have the perfect environment for growing sugar cane, so it is a rising market.  Ethanol accounts for more than 40% of the fuel that Brazilians use in their cars.  Many people believe that the key to the success in Brazil is that people are choosing to use the ethanol in their cars; they are not being forced to switch. 

 

Q5- What is the significance of a yellow gas cap?

          GM is working on a marketing campaign that will promost the E-85 and the company’s new cars that are able to use the fuel.  They yellow gas cap means that the vehicle can use E-85 fuel. 

 

Q6- Describe bio-diesel.

          Bio-diesel is a clean burning renewable resource.  It is an alternative fuel and can be mixed with diesel anyway to make bio-diesel.

 

Q7- Explain the term “flex-fuel engine.” What American auto manufacturer introduced the first prototype of a flex-fuel engine?

          The first auto manufacturer to produce the first flex-fuel engine was Ford.  Flex-fuel is a term used to describe an engine that is capable of running on both gasoline and ethanol. 

 

Q8- Trace the progress of H.R. 6 for viewers to our web site. (dates introduced, amended, pass or rejected) http://www.eei.org/industry_issues/electricity_policy/federal_legislation/index.htm

1.              Introduced to the House on April 18th 2005 and to the Senate on June 9th 2005

2.              Given to committees and passed on April 21st 2005 in the House and on June 28th 2005 in the Senate

3.              Final debate and passed by the House on July 28th 2005

4.              Final debate and passed by the Senate on July 29th 2005

5.              Presented to the President on August 4th 2005

6.              Signed by President on August 8th 2005

 

Q9- What is the purpose of the fuel hybrid vehicle commercialization initiative?

          It is designed to help promote and improve the technologies of the hybrid vehicle.

 

Q10- What is the nation's largest renewable energy resource?

          Hydroelectric damns happen to be the largest renewable fuel resource in the United States.

 

Q11- What is the purpose of the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative?

          The Hydrogen Fuel Initiative aims to reverse America’s growing dependence on foreign oil by developing the technology needed for commercially viable hydrogen powered fuel cells.

 

Q12- List seven items mentioned in the 2005 energy tax bill that taxpayers can claim as credits against their tax bills.
 

1.              A new hybrid gas-electric car or truck

2.              Energy efficient windows or insulation

3.              Solar powered water heating systems

4.              Energy efficient appliances

5.              Contractors who build energy efficient homes

6.              Businesses who install solar power energy cells

7.              Businesses who buy hybrid vehicles

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