Alternative Fuels NOW !!!!

Alternative Energies !!!

U.S. Farmers May Plant Less Corn, Soybeans as Energy Costs Soar
Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Byron Jones, a farmer near Saybrook, Illinois, said he probably will plant less corn next year because the expense of buying fertilizer for crops and fuel for tractors has risen along with energy prices.
``We're all caught on the same treadmill of increasing costs,'' said Jones, who has grown corn and soybeans on his farm about 150 miles (241 kilometers) south of Chicago since 1961.
The price of anhydrous ammonia, a nitrogen-based fertilizer made with natural gas, has climbed 20 percent from last year and 80 percent from two years ago. Natural gas has almost doubled in the past year and is near a record. Diesel fuel, used to run farm equipment, has climbed 71 percent in the past two years as crude oil has exceeded $70 a barrel in New York trading.

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=a.noz_4pKMrY&refer=news_index


Seed Money ; Obama Proposes Legislation to Promote Corn-Based Fuel
Justin Powell waited patiently at the Qik-n-EZ on Stevenson Drive to fill his 2004 Ford Ranger pickup with E-85.

The holdup was U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's press conference to announce legislation to provide a federal tax credit to build E-85 fueling stations across the country, and to offer consumers such as Powell a 35-cent-per-gallon tax credit on purchases of the ethanol- based fuel.

Statewide, there are 20 gas stations that offer E-85.

Justin Powell waited patiently at the Qik-n-EZ on Stevenson Drive to fill his 2004 Ford Ranger pickup with E-85.

The holdup was U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's press conference to announce legislation to provide a federal tax credit to build E-85 fueling stations across the country, and to offer consumers such as Powell a 35-cent-per-gallon tax credit on purchases of the ethanol- based fuel.

E-85 is a renewable fuel made from 85 percent corn-based ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

Currently, there are about 180,000 gas stations in the United States, but only 400 or so sell E-85. In Springfield, there are five Qik-n-EZ stations offering E-85, as well as Qik-n-EZ outlets in Bloomington, Shelbyville, Lincoln and, soon, Pana.

Statewide, there are 20 gas stations that offer E-85.

"Obviously I'm interested in E-85 because of the price," said Powell, of Springfield, who could fill his tank for $1.69 a gallon compared to the gasoline price of $2.11. "But it's also cleaner. I bought this truck last summer, and I started using E-85 as soon as it was offered."

http://www.aiada.org/article.asp?id=38345


SOME CARS MAY RUN WELL ON CORN BASED FUELS
Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Rising gas prices continue to drain drivers wallets. What if there was an alternative form of fuel available that costs less and did not require you to do anything to modify your vehicle?

Drivers around the country are being introduced to E85. It is an ethanol based fuel that could be the answer to the gas crisis. Nevada recently got its first E85 fueling site. Dave Dufort just found out that his minivan can run on ethanol.

About 10,000 cars in Las Vegas can already run on E85, a blend of grain alcohol and gasoline. The bad news for Dave is that he has already filled up with gas. Instead of paying $2.48 cents for gas, he could have only paid $1.99 for E85.

http://www.kfdx.com/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=9453


Springfield-based gas stations convert to ethanol
August 30, 2005
AGAWAM, Mass. --The owner of a Massachusetts-based gas station chain says he is converting his 16 retail stations to a 10 percent blend of corn-based ethanol, but not because it's cheaper than petroleum-based fuel.
"We aren't doing this because of prices, we are doing this for environmental reasons and because corn is a renewable source of energy," said Robert L. Bolduc, president of Springfield-based Pride, in making the announcement on Monday. "If all gasoline used a 10 percent ethanol blend, it would cut reliance on foreign oil by 10 percent."
He said ethanol is cheaper today, but may not be in the future. He noted that ethanol was 12 cents a gallon higher than refined gasoline prices about a year ago.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/08/30/springfield_based_gas_stations_convert_to_ethanol/


Marysville ethanol; "It's economical“
BY JIM BLOCH
VOICE REPORTER
In the middle of July, a research paper hit the front pages of local and national newspapers claiming that it takes more energy to make ethanol, a corn-based fuel added to gasoline, than ethanol creates.
In Marysville, where a $95 million ethanol plant has been proposed, capable of producing 50 million gallons of ethanol per year, the news was unsettling.

http://www.voicenews.com/stories/083105/loc_ethanol001.shtml


Purdue Plans Extensive Energy R&D Center
August 31, 2005
West Lafayette, Indiana [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] Purdue's new Energy Center will focus on research to develop future power sources, including methods that use solar and nuclear energy, bioenergy, wind turbines, and clean-coal technology. The Energy Center will be located at Discovery Park, Purdue's interdisciplinary research hub.
"Current technologies for wind power are based on conventional propeller technology. We are working with the new physics of 'unsteady aerodynamic phenomena.'"
--Sanford Fleeter, professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue
More than 75 Purdue experts will concentrate on development of bio-fuels and clean coal research, and enhance the university's expertise in storage technologies involving hydrogen, batteries, power electronics and renewable energy such as solar cells.

http://renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=35997



BIODIESEL - THE ALTERNATE, VEGETABLE-BASED FUEL FOR DIESEL ENGINES
OVERVIEW
BIODIESEL:

Is created from soybean or other vegetable oil or from used cooking oil (there are more than 4 billion gallons of waste cooking oil produced annually in the U.S.; enough to replace 10% of fuel expenditures (Source: Greasecar.com)). It can be made from almost any plant-derived oil.

Creating biodiesel from plants that are not grown organically could potentially offset the environmental benefits of this new fuel source due to pollution from pesticides/herbicides/insecticides, soil loss, habitat destruction, and/or damage caused by growing genetically-engineered plants.

Reduces carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide (one of the main causes of acid rain), hydrocarbons, benzene, and particulate matter.

Increases nitrogen oxide levels (unless biodiesel is made from used cooking oil). The biodiesel industry is looking for additives that would reduce nitrogen oxide levels.

Smells like french fries or popcorn when burned.

Can safely be blended with petroleum diesel.

Can be used in any diesel engine with little or no modification to the engine or the fuel system. On pre-1986 vehicles, it may be necessary to replace any rubber fuel hoses that are not made of modern synthetic materials. Before first time use, it is recommended (but not always necessary - depends on age of car) that the fuel tank be flushed to eliminate sediment and scum. The fuel filter should also be changed during initial use (frequency depends on age of car).

Results in a slight drop in fuel economy.

Currently costs between $2.00 and $3.00 a gallon retail in the U.S.

Can extend the life of diesel engines.

Is biodegradable.

Has been used extensively for over 20 years in Europe. France is the largest user in the world.

Is one of the fastest growing alternative fuels in the U.S.

Has been extensively tested by government agencies, university researchers and private industry in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Would create new jobs and increased income for farmers.

Provides a domestic, renewable energy supply.

Has been approved by the U.S. EPA as an alternative fuel.

Is safer to use than petroleum diesel - it has a flash point of 300 F (vs. 125 F for diesel).

Can also be used as a fuel lubricity additive in diesel fuel.

Is being actively marketed by at least 27 U.S. companies.

http://www.globalstewards.org/biodiesel.htm


US firm markets additive for home-made bio-diesel
17th August 2005
Diesel Secret Energy, LLC (DSE) says it has developed a simple method for creating an alternative diesel fuel from vegetable oil that requires no engine conversion or the use of harsh chemicals associated with making bio-diesel. The cost per gallon to users of the non-EPA approved fuel, assuming free supply of vegetable oil, is quoted at 46 cents per US gallon.
From www.dieselsecret.com/ for $39.95, a buyer receives a manual and video describing how the user can make their own homemade "fuel station" in a few hours plus a bottle of DSE’s additive. The resulting fuel is claimed to be cheaper and safer than making bio-diesel or any other alternative, and emissions on vehicles using this fuel are claimed to “far exceed those using petroleum diesel” – by which DSE can be taken to mean the opposite.

http://www.autoindustry.co.uk/news/industry_news/17-08-05


In Minnesota soybean country, biodiesel is the next big thing
By BRIAN BAKST Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press - Tuesday, August 30, 2005

ST. PAUL
As the fall harvest nears, farmer Bob Worth's outlook couldn't be much brighter.
Well-timed rain and abundant heat made for his best soybean crop in years. And this week, state agriculture officials began a 30-day countdown to a first-in-the-nation biodiesel requirement that should drive up demand and prices for his soybeans.
"We've been waiting a long time," said Worth, who has a 3,000-acre farm in Lake Benton and serves as president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. "This is going to be a fantastic day."

http://www.in-forum.com/ap/index.cfm?page=view&id=D8CAD8503