Energy Stupidity

SEARCH BLOG: ETHANOL

The House version of the Energy Bill pushed by Nancy Pelosi of California calls for 36 billion gallons of fuel to be biofuel... primarily ethanol.

A new study shows that developing “green” fuel alternatives may put those with asthma and other respiratory diseases at a higher risk.

The research, which was developed by Civil and Environmental Engineering Prof. Mark Jacobson, indicates that more of the corrosive gas ozone would be produced by the combustion of ethanol than by the combustion of gasoline.

“Ethanol is being promoted as a clean and renewable fuel that will reduce global warming and air pollution,” Jacobson said in a recent Los Angeles Times article. “But our results show that a high blend of ethanol poses an equal or greater risk to public health than gasoline, which already causes significant health damage.”

The study specifically deals with E85, an alternative to gasoline which is composed of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

According to Jacobson’s report, “under the base-case emission scenario derived, which accounted for projected improvements in gasoline and E85 vehicle emission controls, it was found that E85 may increase ozone-related mortality, hospitalization and asthma by about nine percent in Los Angeles and four percent in the U.S. as a whole relative to 100 percent gasoline.” [source]

Good thing there aren't any voters for Pelosi in Los Angeles; she might lose every 11th one. But not to worry because she'll be sure to include a liability provision in the Bill that allows all those Californians to sue the auto manufacturers for damaging their health.

And the bill would force utilities to generate at least 15 percent of their electricity using renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power by 2020. Does the House leader realize that wood is a "renewable resource" and is a relatively simple conversion... albeit far less efficient... from coal? Just cut down the forests and wait for the new ones to grow back!

Ah, the smell of wood smoke filling the air!

How about building a bunch of 4th generation nuclear power plants...

fourth-generation design called a gas-pebble-bed reactor (PBMR). The new reactors are supposed to be inexpensive to build, more powerful, and safer; and they can be operated for up to 60 years, according to nuclear-power trade groups... [source]

and actually have a solution that works consistently, efficiently and safely? Even when it is raining or the air is calm. More here.

This bill sounds like something an old hippie might write.

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