The Soaring Cost of Fuel

With gas prices hovering at almost $3.00 per gallon throughout most of the country, and well over $3 in places like Hawaii, I think to myself, when are we going to get a break? The United States needs to take a look at Brazil, who is completely independent of the need for foreign oil.

As the price of gas soars for the rest of the world, Brazil has led the world in the biofuel movement. This country is using natural things like sugar cane, corn, and grasses as a much cleaner much cheaper substitute for oil. The country uses these natural resources to produce Ethanol. Ethanol is actually higher in octane than most gas, plus it can help to reduce the emission of carbon monoxide and other toxins.

The majority of fuel used in cars in Brazil is ethanol, they actually call it alcohol. The United States though lacks far behind with only around 4% of our fuel coming from ethanol. Every drop of fuel sold in Brazil includes a minimum of 26% ethanol. But for those drivers that have cars that are able to use pure ethanol, otherwise known at E100, the have the luxury of paying about 50% less than those using the Ethanol blend. Plus the use of the pure ethanol (E100) will continue to rise as carmakers like GM continue to make flexible fuel cars.

The United States sells a gasoline/ethanol blend containing only 10% ethanol, but for the most part this is done only in the Midwest. And less than 100 gas stations offer the near pure blend called E85. Meaning 85% ethanol. This needs to change. Adapting a car to use pure ethanol is done very inexpensively! All that needs to be done is add a fuel sensor, and corrosion resistant hoses. Still though there are only about 4 million flexible fuel cars in the United States compared to the more than 200 million cars on American roads.

The government of the United States does not want to use a natural recourse like corn because it will cost more to turn corn into ethanol that sugar cane. Maybe we should just let the government know that the state of Hawaii if covered in sugar cane! Plus, ok if you don't want to go to Hawaii, and use the sugar can just use the corn. I know that as an American I would love to go to the gas station and see prices that are 25% lover. So maybe we don't get the 50% lower cost. I'm sure we would all take 25%. The manufacture of ethanol would also provide more work for the American farmer. This will allow him the ability to feed his family. Why should we be paying for oil from the Middle East and continue to feed money to the rich?

There is a provision in the Senate energy bill that will require all U.S. refiners t double the use of ethanol fuels by 2012. This is a great start, but the API (American Petrol Institute) is fighting to keep this provision off of the final bill.

Also the United States charges a very high tax on all imported ethanol, and if the United States would open the traffic between itself and Brazil we could gain a great partnership, and make life better for the people of both the USA and Brazil.