Burlington High School

Burlington, Kansas

Teacher: Mrs. Devra Parker

Arm, Leg, and Firstborn

By Madelaine Schmidt

12^th Grade

Picture a woman, driving down the road, and her car is almost on empty. She has not seen a gas station for about 30 miles. Finally, one comes into view. Her heart starts to pound as her car slowly comes to a stop. It keeps pounding until she sees the price…five dollars and 29 cents a gallon.  With as high as gas prices are getting it is time to find an alternative; one that I am in favor of is ethanol. In the future, ethanol will be able to create more jobs, be financially cheaper…and safer for the environment.

Some may wonder what exactly ethanol is. Ethanol is known as ethyl alcohol. It is flammable, mildly toxic, and colorless. Ethanol is used in alcohol and fuel. One of the great things about ethanol is that it is renewable and can be made right here in the United States.

When using it as fuel, ethanol is produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars. Ethanol is prepared either by the dry mill process or the wet mill. Most commonly it is made by the dry mill process in several steps.

First, the corn is passed through a hammer mill, which pounds it into a fine powder. This powder is called meal. Then comes liquefaction, where the meal is mixed with water and alpha amylase. The substances are heated at high temperatures, so they will liquefy. Glucoamylase is then added to convert the liquid into fermented sugars. After this, yeast is added to the batch and [it is all] put into a fermenter for about 48 hours. Step five is the distillation; the product has now been turned into beer. The batch is put into a multi-column distillation system where the beer is separated from the solids and the water. The substance is then put through the dehydration process where the water is removed. Since the ethanol is to be made for fuel, about two to five percent of gasoline is added. Finally, ethanol fit to be used for fuel is produced.

Although Ford may have been one of the first companies to make E85 compatible cars, many other companies have followed. The car companies have even started making it easier to tell if the car runs on ethanol or not. Most use a colored gas cap, or tell a driver to look at the VIN number on the door. If the car uses ethanol it will have E85 at the end of the VIN number. The nice thing about ethanol is even if a car is not made to use it, it can be converted. It may cost some money, but it also might be cheaper to convert an old car rather than buying a new one. After one has a compatible car, the big question is where to buy E85. Right now, most gas stations that have E85 are located in the Midwest. In time and with how high gas prices are getting, more gas stations will get E85.

Sadly, by more people using and producing ethanol, this means less money for the Middle East. On a positive note, by using ethanol in vehicles, it has been figured that household income will increase by 43 million dollars. Besides saving money, this will also provide over 200,000 new jobs. It is thought that it will add 200 billion dollars to Gross Domestic Production, and create new investments and renewable fuel production facilities.

One big difference between E85 and gas is the pollution put into the atmosphere. E85 reduces the amount of ozone reducing pollution by 20 percent. It also reduces green house gas emissions by close to 30 percent. Although it is mildly toxic, E85 is still less toxic than gasoline. Gasoline puts chemicals in the air such as benzene, toluene, and xylene, while E85 does not. Besides worrying about the chemicals released by gasoline, we also have to think about the leaks and spills. If E85 spills, it is able to dissolve easier with water. The fuel is also able to burn cooler and keep engines cleaner.

Thus, some say the only real negative to using E85 is that we get lower fuel mileage on a gallon-to-gallon basis. Other than that, using ethanol as an alternative fuel has many positives. Everyone has seen the pictures of gas stations putting on their signs an arm, a leg, and the first born as a way to pay for gas. It is time that people realize it will take a lot before most gas stations and most cars on the road have or are E85 compatible, but financial speaking, it is worth the wait. I feel that in the end, using ethanol will help our economy and our ways of living for years to come.

Answers To Questions Prompted By The Required Reading

Q1- Gassahol is a byproduct exclusively from gasoline and ethanol whereas cellulosic ethanol can be produced from agricultural waste such as cornstalks, tree bark and grasses.

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? 

• They added it to try and break away from the fuel economy standards.

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

• They were produced 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 been able to turn their sugar cane into ethanol. Because of this they have been able to put 1.3 million flex-fuel cars on their roads. Consumers were very happy with the flex-fuel cars, because it meant that they did not have to choose between a gasoline car or an ethanol car. Some say that Brazil’s key to success was letting the consumers choose if they wanted ethanol rather than making them buy it.

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

·       It tells whether your car or truck is E85 or E85 ready.

Q6- Describe bio-diesel.

• It is a clean burning alternative fuel, produced form domestic, renewable resources.

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

• It is an engine that can use both gasoline and ethanol. Ford introduced the first prototype of a flex-fuel engine.

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

·       Bill was introduced in April 2005.

·       President Bush signed the bill on August 8^th.

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

·       To reduce petroleum consumption by bringing new clean technologies to the market faster.

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

• Hydroelectric dams is the largest renewable energy resource.

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

• To develop the technology to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen for use in fuel-cell vehicles. 

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

·       Efficiency and conservation tax credits encourage the construction of energy-efficient offices and homes, the purchase of energy efficient heating and cooling systems and appliances.

·       Expands an existing business solar investment tax credit from the current 10 percent to 30 percent for the purchase of solar equipment.

·       A tax deduction equaling the cost of energy efficient equipment installed if the equipment reduces the energy and power consumption of a commercial building by 50 percent.

·       Tax credits for the contractors of new energy efficient homes if the homes achieve an energy savings of 50 percent or more over the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code.

·       Tax credits for the purchase of water heaters, heat pumps, air conditioners, furnaces and other equipment that achieve certain efficiency levels when purchased for residential properties.

·       A new tax credit for manufacturers who produce highly energy-efficient dishwashers, clothes washers and refrigerators.

·       30 percent tax credit for the purchase of solar, photovoltaic and fuel cell properties for use in residences

Web Sites

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol#As_a_fuel

ü    (Somewhat Informative)

www.ethanol.org/howethanol.html

ü    (Very Informative)

http://ezinearticles.com/?E85-Ethanol-And-Your-Old-Car&id=216452

ü    (Very Informative)

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=803341

ü    (Very Informative)

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