It's nice to see common sense in the energy industry, where there is often very little margin for error (just ask BP and Transocean). Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (KMP) does ethanol transport the right way. Railcars take it to ports, with a small amount of proprietary pipeline for the last hurdle. Minimizing the distance ethanol must travel by pipeline is crucial given its propensity for water solubility and pipeline corrosion. Kinder Morgan has had a handle on those problems for some time now.
Ethanol is part of America's energy future provided its feedstocks are grown organically. That's the only way it can have a positive EROEI. The entire energy sector is well aware of the challenges posed by transporting ethanol, but it's good to see at least one company showing leadership in developing a transport approach that makes sense.
Full disclosure: no positions in BP, RIG, or KMP.
Ethanol is part of America's energy future provided its feedstocks are grown organically. That's the only way it can have a positive EROEI. The entire energy sector is well aware of the challenges posed by transporting ethanol, but it's good to see at least one company showing leadership in developing a transport approach that makes sense.
Full disclosure: no positions in BP, RIG, or KMP.
