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Porsche Club of America
The Northeast Region

By Dave Weber, GT3Cup@PorscheNet.com
NOR'EASTER Online - June 2002

We’ve been had yet again by our politicians in Washington. The Senate has passed their version of a new energy bill, which supposedly will help address our long-term energy needs by lessening our dependence on foreign sources for oil. They also say that the use of ethanol will reduce auto emission pollution. In reality the bill is yet another handout to Archer-Daniels-Midland, and Midwest corn farmers. As reported in the Wall Street Journal, the proposed legislation will mandate that billions of gallons of ethanol be added to our gasoline in future years.

The first problem is that the production of ethanol consumes more BTU’s than the energy value of the resulting ethanol. According to a study performed by a Cornell University agricultural scientist, it takes 70% more energy (which comes from fossil fuels) to produce a gallon of ethanol than the energy ethanol creates. So by using ethanol we’ll be increasing our need for fossil fuels, not lessening our need! Makes perfect sense doesn’t it?

The second problem with this legislation is that increasing ethanol usage will add something approaching 10 cents per gallon of cost. In the same study, as reported in the WSJ, it cost $1.74 a gallon to produce ethanol versus $.95 for a gallon of gasoline. So guess what, fossil fuels are used to produce ethanol, not ethanol fuel to produce ethanol? The growers and processors aren’t stupid, they’re smart enough to figure out how to increase their profits at our expense!

As for cleaning up auto emissions, guess what! The plants that produce ethanol produce carbon monoxide, methanol, and “additional emissions that weren’t anticipated” at levels “many times greater” than the ethanol producing companies promised. Quotes are from an EPA report released last week. The EPA says they’ll be investigating those plants for pollution. Want to bet on what kind of pressure the EPA will get from certain legislators.

Auto emissions have been steadily improving for years as a result of better engine management systems, and catalytic converter systems. The WSJ quotes a National Academy of Science report that concludes that ethanol usage will have “little impact in improving ozone quality.” So in typical Washington logic, we’ll be solving air pollution by pumping more bad stuff into the air! An amount that will triple by 2012 because of the Senator Daschle lead legislation.

What this legislation does is further tax US citizens, and then transfer those “taxes” to farmers and corporations in the Midwest. We’ll not see any benefits in our wallets, or breath cleaner air, and no doubt our cars will run poorer (and probably need more maintenance!). And of course those politicians, that hose us, will get reelected by their Midwest constituencies. They’ll then look for more ways to stick it to taxpayers like you and I so they can keep getting elected!

In the future we’ll no doubt have to deal with laws that further discourage the use of gasoline powered automobiles, in favor of electric powered cars – produced by plants that consume massive amounts of fossil fuel while spewing out more air pollution than automobiles contribute. Our legislators will resist opening up new areas for oil exploration and drilling, while decrying our dependence on foreign sources for oil. Our energy will cost more, our vehicles will cost more, and our mobility will be hampered. (Guess I’m feeling rather pessimistic today!).

By the time you read this column we’ll be off to Mid-Ohio for our second driver education event of the year. We really enjoy that track, especially the back section that includes “Thunder Valley.” In preparation for the trip I visited “Google” on the Internet, looking for truck wash facilities in Pennsylvania. As you might expect, Google quickly found a number of sites containing truck wash information. Buried in their list of options was one site specific to Pennsylvania. With just a few minutes of searching I located an option right on our route, that we’ll reach at an appropriate point in our trip (read bathroom break)! We’ll arrive in Mansfield, Ohio with a shiny truck and trailer (unless of course the weather doesn’t cooperate). How did we find these things out prior to the advent of the Internet and search engines?

Formula 1 racing is dealing with a public relations fiasco of sorts, since Michael Schumacher was gifted a win at the recent Austrian F1 race. Ferrari leadership requested that Rubens Barrichello slow to let Michael pass him for the win just prior to the start finish line. This was probably the correct team strategy as it enhances Schumacher’s chances for winning the driver championship, but it hasn’t worked in the world of public opinion. I was surprised that Ferrari leadership made the call they did, given the strength they’ve demonstrated so far. I doubt the extra points Michael gained will prove to be necessary at year-end. But who knows for certain? Michael’s reputation and fan appeal has been blemished unnecessarily I suspect. I rather think Ferrari leadership will be a little more cautious about their calls the rest of the year. Certainly if they do request that Rubens let Michael past it will not take place at the finish line!

Finally I want to thank Bruce Hauben and Murry Mathews for their work in putting together this year’s New England Ramble. Susana and I have missed the past two years because of a business commitment of mine, so it was very enjoyable to once join the tour, this year with a record 130 Porsches and 250 plus Porsche Club members. The weather cooperated, the roads were fun for the most part, and the destination worthwhile (The Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods). Putting together an event of this size and complexity takes lots of time, Bruce and Murry pulled it off very well. Thanks gentlemen! Where are we going next year?

Porsche Club of America The Northeast Region

Porsche Club of America
The Northeast Region