I have always (since I started driving anyway) wondered how gas prices never really seem to change that much... I assume we pay for it one way or another.
There always seems to be an angry outcry or at least grumbles whenever renewable energy sources are mentioned. Politics aside, is the general feeling that it can't work and is a waste of money? What is the downside to attempting to develop renewable, efficient, and affordable energy sources?
Don't Care about the precieved cost of fuel. These figures are being used to try and justify the rapid rise in the cost of fuel, and the even quicker rise in oil company profits.
Follow the Money and you will see what drives the cost of fuel.
I am all for replacing our petroleum based economy with sustainable fuels.
It can be done, but not in the current climate of oil companies makeing obscene record profits.
Follow the Money
Bio-Diesel is not waste oil from the local fast food shop, nor is it bought from Albertson's at 8 something a gallon. It is a real alternative to our fuel crises. It is a sustainable fuel which will benefit our economy. The technology is here now unlike fuel cells or hybrid electric engines. No modifications are needed on present engines. What is needed is a distribution system and manufacturing that will ensure a steady supply. Since it is a renewable resource this can be accomplished. If our government was serious about a solution to the crises at hand Bio-Diesel would be considered.
Bio-Diesel is not waste oil from the local fast food shop, nor is it bought from Albertson's at 8 something a gallon. It is a real alternative to our fuel crises. It is a sustainable fuel which will benefit our economy. The technology is here now unlike fuel cells or hybrid electric engines. No modifications are needed on present engines. What is needed is a distribution system and manufacturing that will ensure a steady supply. Since it is a renewable resource this can be accomplished. If our government was serious about a solution to the crises at hand Bio-Diesel would be considered.
I think some confusion comes from the fact that biodiesel is a vegetable based oil and used vegtable oil CAN be converted to biodiesel by the same process as virgin oil. We have a conversion plant being built in NC in the Mt Olive area. There is already a large scale operation in West Point, VA. From my understanding when using soybeans the oil produced is not as "fine" a grade as food quality oil so the processing costs are lower compared to the $8 a gallon stuff plus you are not paying for a grocery distribution system. IMHO the biggest advantages to biodiesel are the constant renewability of it...and it can be made from multiple products not just corn or soybeans and it burns much cleaner than dinodiesel. FWIW a tractor running on pure soy based bio smells slightly like roasted peanuts....another advantage is that the process to produce bio is fairly simple and the by-products as well as the process itself are very non threatening environmentally...
Aaron
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....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #2449 AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
The government (USDA, ERRC) is working on a method to convert the waste product from ethanol production into biodiesel.
The solid part of corn that is left over from ethanol production, dried distillers grain, contains about 10% oil. If this material is treated with alkaline methanol, in an in-situ transesterification process, it can be made into biodiesel.
Minnesota is requiring that all dinodiesel contain 2% biodiesel.
I don't think it would matter what was found at a reasonable price for fuel. The big 3 would make changes to their cars so they wouldn't run on it or the government would regulate it and put a tax on it to the same price as gas. Marvin
I think you guys are reading too much into this. I read an article about a guy who has over 250,000 miles on his diesel motorhome and all he has ever ran through it is used vegetable oil from restaurants around the country. He hasn't paid one cent for fuel. The article went on to say that all biodiesel is is a close equivalent to cooking oil with the glycerol removed. Now I'm sure everybody is going to talk now about how bad it is for you engine...yada yada yada. This guy's got 250K miles and still going strong. The interviewer reported that the man's exhaust smelled like french fries!
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