Calvert Hall College High school
Baltimore, Maryland
Teacher: George Kropp
Not Enough
By Ryan Holleran
11th Grade
Most people would agree that the United States needs to lower its dependency on foreign oil, however, what many people disagree on is how we should achieve this and if we are doing enough to reduce the dependency.
One of the proposed resolutions to this dependency is the use of alternative fuels as the energy source for cars and trucks. The capability to use alternative fuels was designed years ago, to help lift the burden of the ever-increasing gasoline and oil prices from the Middle-East. Some well known alternative fuels and energies include E85, diesel, biodiesel, M85 methanol fuel, hydrogen, gas-electric hybrids and electric-only vehicles.
Before reviewing what some of the proposed benefits of alternative fuels are, let’s look at the definition of “alternative”. Alternative means to be different from the usual or conventional existing or functioning outside the established cultural, social, or economic system. Our established economic system for vehicle energy is oil based gasoline. One of the most popular alternatives to gasoline is E85 ethanol gas. E85 is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gas. Brazil is currently the world’s largest producer of ethanol and has shown that ethanol use can significantly reduce the need for gasoline. In the U.S. there are already millions of cars on the road today that can run on E85 and many car manufacturers are increasing the production of flex-fuel cars, capable of using either straight gasoline or E85.
Some of the benefits of ethanol based alternative fuels, is the reduction of carbon emissions. Burning ethanol reduces carbon emission by 80 percent versus gasoline. Also using ethanol results in a about a 50 percent decrease in smog forming emissions. A recent study at UC Berkley found that using ethanol made from corn would result in a 13 percent reduction is greenhouse emissions. They also concluded that using ethanol made from cellulosic materials such as switch grass would result in an 88 percent reduction of greenhouse emissions!
Ethanol based alternative fuels also have some disadvantages. The biggest disadvantage today, is that the cost of alternative fuels is actually higher then gasoline. Most of the ethanol is produced in the Mid-West and the cost to have the product shipped to either coast today, would result in a much higher cost to consumers. Even in the Mid-West where the product is made, the cost is higher then gasoline. Because of this, many people are simply not interested or concerned enough to pay more money even though it is better for the environment. Additionally, ethanol does not burn as efficiently in internal-combustion engines and E85 contains only 72% of the energy on a gallon-for-gallon basis compared to gasoline. Less energy means less power, which is noticeable. Lastly, to really make an obvious difference in gasoline use, there will have to be billions and billions of dollars invested to bring ethanol to market in a cost effective way. Today there are less then 600 ethanol stations and a majority of them are only in two states, according to the Department of Energy.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 was passed by the United States on July 29th 2005 and was an attempt to combat growing energy problems. This act is wide spread and offers loans, subsidies and incentives for innovative technologies, alternative use developments and also mandates research by the U.S. Department of Energy. This act contains provisions that can apply to individuals but most of the incentives are offered to big businesses. Since the bill was enacted there has been a lot of criticism from politicians who believe the act did not achieve what it was intended to. Hilary Clinton said, "I oppose the bill for two reasons. First, it contains a number of highly objectionable provisions. Second, it simply ignores several of our most pressing energy challenges, such as our dependence on foreign oil."
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 is a small step in energy-saving legislation and will have very little effect on our country’s dependency on foreign oil in the near future. The bill does provide funding for existing energy sources such as nuclear, coal and fossil fuel but, does not give significant money to encourage companies to really innovate and develop the technology for alternative energy. It appears the bill is intending to continue using the same sources of energy and either find more of it or, make it cheaper to obtain. As long as we continue to invest in the same old sources, we may never tap into the truly innovative alternatives and potentially life changing elimination of foreign oil. Changes are required to the legislation to accomplish this. There needs to be much more funding and cooperative efforts with the large energy companies, such as British Petroleum or Shell, to find cost effective alternatives. It will take billions and billions of dollars to develop the alternatives but if we are to end [our] dependency on foreign oil in my lifetime, we have to start now. This bill has clearly not provided the means necessary to accomplish such an objective.
Questions and Answers to the Required Reading
Q1- Gassahol is a byproduct exclusively from _________ and _________ whereas cellulosic ethanol can be produced from agricultural waste such as ___________, ___________ and ____________.
A- Gasoline, ethanol, 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?
A- Automakers quietly added the flex-fuel feature to get a break from fuel-economy standards
Q3- When were the first cars produced that were capable of using ethanol?
A- The early 1900’s with the production of Henry Ford’s Model T
Q4- In a paragraph, describe Brazil’s experience with ethanol. What did the Fortune article claim was Brazil’s key to success?
A- Nearly three- quarters of new cars can burn ethanol or gasoline in Brazil. The fuel that will fill the tanks of nearly 3 million cars is produced from the vast amount of sugar cane fields in Brazil. Ethanol also account for more than 40% of the fuel that they use in their cars today. The key to their success was that consumers were choosing ethanol rather than being forced to buy it.
Q5- What is the significance of a yellow gas cap?
A- To Indicate E85-ready cars and trucks that can run on E85.
Q6- Describe bio-diesel.
A- Bio-diesel is a diesel-equivalent, processed fuel derived from biological sources, such as vegetable oils, that can be used in unmodified diesel-engine vehicles
Q7- Explain the term “flex-fuel engine”. What American auto manufacturer introduced the first prototype of a flex-fuel engine?
A- A “flex-fuel engine” is an engine that can run on either gasoline or E85 and they are almost identical to gasoline only engines. With flex fuel you can chose between filling up on gas, or using E85. Ford.
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
A- The bill was passed on July 29th 2005 by congress. On August 8, 2005, President Bush signed into law H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The bill enhances protections for electricity consumers, and encourages energy efficiency and conservation. The Edison Electric Institute has no been focusing its time on the final step implementation.
Q9- What is the purpose of the fuel hybrid vehicle commercialization initiative?
A- To improve technologies for the commercialization of hybrid and flex-fuel vehicles.
Q10- What is the nation's largest renewable energy resource?
A- Hydro-electric dams
Q11- What is the purpose of the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative?
A- 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.
A- 1- The construction of energy-efficient offices and homes.
2- Contractors of new energy efficient homes
3- The purchase of water heaters, heat pumps, air conditioners, furnaces, and other equipment that achieve certain efficiency levels.
4- Manufacturers who produce highly energy-efficient dishwashers.
5- Purchases of solar, photovoltaic and fuel cell properties.
6- Tax deduction if the equipment installed reduces power consumption by 50 percent
7- The purchase of alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles.
Works Citied
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/20060522a1.asp
(Very informative- no bias)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Policy_Act_of_2005
(Very Informative- no bias)
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center-article_46/
(Very Informative- heavy pro-reform bias)
http://www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=alternat&pcat=autos
(Somewhat informative- slightly pro-reform bias)