I just cannot sit by anymore and see so many who are ignorant about ethanol educate others with said ignorance.
First, this article better describes the problem. It is not the cost of mixing ethanol but the timing and the fact that this refinery did not own gas stations to mix at point of tank fillup.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes....ankruptcy/amp//
Some other things to consider when we discuss ethanol....
The corn used for ethanol is creating a dual product. The "food" is not lost. The protein is removed and combined with feed stock. Which is what yellow corn was every really used for, feeding animals and corn syrup.
Try eating some of that corn...
So all the energy required to grow the corn would have been used to .... grow corn anyway.
So the articles saying it requires more oil to produce ethanol than we can make (which used farming production in their equations) are false.
Imagine removing approximately %10 of all gasoline from the current market. Currently oil refineries are maxed out. It would take at least a year to make up for it. Prices would go up quickly. I am just trying to highlight the effects of ethanol on gasoline prices in general. If no ethanol, prices would be higher across the board. Not nearly the amount as the "shock" example given since refineries would have been upping their capacity long ago.
Ethanol is not subsidised any more than the oil regineries are. Its called tax breaks and credits. Farmers and ethanol refineries don't get gubment checks in the mail.
YOU, however, are getting a tax break at the pump. Sales tax that is. The reason the ethanol blended prices are cheaper at the pump is (at least in my case) your states sales tax is reduced for it. Rather than complaining about it, enjoy it. If it was not for the sales tax decrease, prices would be about the same.
And yes I would put in the non ethanol for the 3% mileage increase.
"Ethanol mandated! Let the free market work!!!!"
I agree, let the free market work. Stop mandating oil based gasoline. There are ethanol prosucers here in Iowa who want to eliminate mandates...all of them.
Did you know it was illegal to put ethanol into your gas tank tears ago. The government mandated 100% oil based gasoline. Now they mandate 90% with acceptions for 15% and 85% ethanol.
By the way, ethanol is a cheap way to increase octane. Ever noticed how costly high octane is without ethanol? Like it or not, auto makers are increasing the compression in the engines to squeeze out more fuel mileage to meet the, like it or hate it, EPA regs. Octane requirements are going to go up.
Oh and don't get me started on the stupidity of "ethanol ruins engines and fuel systems" early 90's car? Would not touch ethanol. Today, not a problem.
Thank you for reading my rant. Lol
I mean no disrespect to the OP. Sorry...