Hawaii enters national debate over future of ethanol in gas

[Omaha Steve]

X post in GD



FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2015 file photo, corn is delivered to the Green Plains ethanol plant in Shenandoah, Iowa. Hawaii is poised to end a mandate that fuel for automobiles must be mixed with 10 percent ethanol, and it could become the second state to do so. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)


http://bigstory.ap.org/article/e399520d4b864df6bf5bff9001f1a6ce/hawaii-enters-national-debate-over-future-ethanol-gas

By CATHY BUSSEWITZ May. 6, 2015 8:45 PM EDT

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii lawmakers have put the state at the front of a national discussion over the future of ethanol in gasoline by passing a bill that puts an end to a requirement that the corn-based additive be mixed into fuel sold in the state.

The move comes as Congress faces pressure to review a federal mandate that calls for ethanol and other renewables in the nation's fuel supply.

Hawaii has required a 10 percent ethanol blend in its gas since 2006. The order was intended to support alternative energy and boost local agriculture.

Opponents, however, say those benefits haven't come, since Hawaii has been importing blended fuel. "Hawaii embarked on a grand experiment to figure out if we can help establish a local renewable ethanol industry, producing ethanol from locally grown feed stocks," Rep. Chris Lee said. "Unfortunately, it just never materialized."

FULL story at link.

[hunter]

1. Seems to me the question will be moot in a few years...

... as electric cars become common.

Range anxiety isn't a big problem. The length of Oahu's shoreline is 227 miles and most road trips are much shorter than that.

"Interstate" H-1, for example," is less than thirty miles long and its notorious congestion is an ideal environment for modern electric vehicles with regenerative braking.

[Bill USA]

2. LOL..How long do you think it will take for electric cars to "become common"?

people are keeping their cars about 10-11 yrs now. So, it takes time even with strong sales to make much of a change in the total fleet. That's assuming very strong sales.

With Cheaper Gas Hybrid sales Crash

[hunter]

3. My car has a salvage title and was made more than thirty years ago. It's older than my kids.

I don't ever wash it except for the windows.

It's full of dog hair. Several lesser features, like the air conditioning and electric door locks, are broken. I see no reason to fix them. I never lock the doors anyways. In some of the places I commonly park that's just asking for a broken window. I've learned that people who really want something out of your car don't think twice about breaking windows. Or car alarms. Everyone ignores car alarms. Nobody gives a fuck about your precious car except you and your friends and the imaginary people on television car commercials.

My own car says to the world, "I don't give a fuck about cars, in fact I hate them."

And I do hate them. They stink and they kill and maim people.

It's a mutual relationship of hate. I think my cars live long just to spite me.

When the fossil fuel, or bio-fuel-of-the-day, or hydrogen automobile culture dies, then I will be at peace.

I bought a new car once. That was a mistake. I even bought a used "flex fuel" vehicle once that would run on any mix of gasoline or alcohol poured in it. Higher % alcohol refuelings were rare. That car got wrecked airbags deployed by kid's acquaintance, also alcohol fueled, but fortunately on private property with no injuries, no lives ruined.