Ethanol is made from commodity corn which is not the same corn you put in
your mouth.  At least not in corn shape.

It is most often used to create feed for high density cattle operations
(note 1: cows dont eat corn and it makes them sick.  they get e. coli and
are given antibiotics in huge quantities to prevent it which leads to
antibiotic resisitance...) and it is used as a raw starch material to
create what you probably read as synthetic ingredients in most processed
foods (high fructose corn syrup and lots of other things on the label
[quickly googled for a list: http://tinyurl.com/6rp48k ].  And it's used
to make a lot of acholic beverages--like vodka, which people think is
usually made from potatoes.

As far as the price of corn, it's actually very under-priced because of
overproduction and federal subsidies.  Overproduction is driven further by
the low price (which equates to low profit margin) and forces farmers to
yield more per acre just to keep up.  Guess what that does.

So the real benefactors end up being the guys who process the cheap corn
into ethanol and food and non-food compounds.  Super cheap raw materials
and super gluttonous americans.  Example: soda pop.

OK back to miatas. :)

Matt



> I didn't see any reference to the assertion (published in Time magazine,
> among others) that filling an SUV with E85 uses enough corn to feed a
> person for a year.  Now there's a shortage of corn that causes its price
> as well the price of other grains to rise substantially.  I get the
> feeling that the only real benefactors are those that had the excess
> supply of corn a few years ago.
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Mark Phillips
>   To: [email protected]
>   Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 6:38 AM
>   Subject: NMC, NPC; E85 article
>
>
>   All,
>
>
>
>   Past postings have debated the pros & cons of E85. This was posted on
> Advance Auto's website and has some good basic information. It is not an
> in depth study but addresses several questions raised in this forum. I
> hope some find it useful.
>
>
>
>   http://www.advanceautoparts.com/english/youcan/asp/prf/prf20080416E85PC.asp
>
>
>
>   Mark
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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