Opinions on Ethanol Shared at PA Forum

The actual average reduction in Miles per gallon on E85 is 25% according to EPA data. However, the SAAB 9-5 biofuel suffers no reduction in mileage, and similar technology could be deployed in more vehicles.
The Herald-Mail ONLINE:
by DOn Aines
"'As far as a fuel, it's substandard,' said Patzek. It requires 35 percent more ethanol to drive the same distance as a gallon of gasoline, he said."

Understanding ethanol financing

Understanding ethanol financing - Jan. 31, 2006:
by Peter Petre, FORTUNE
"Where does ethanol fit in the alternative-fuel world?"

Wanna make a bet on biofuels?

FORTUNE: Wanna make a bet on biofuels? - Jan. 31, 2006:
by Jon Birger, FORTUNE senior writer
"Investing in ethanol is risky, but here are a few ways that small investors can get a piece of the action."

Pilot Plant for Cellulosic Ethanol to be Built in Nebraska

SunOpta Announces Progress on Cellulosic Ethanol Activities | Nachrichten | Aktienkurs |:
1/30/2006 -- Sun Opta Inc. Press Release
"Within the last two weeks SunOpta shipped the Pretreatment Systemfor the Abengoa Bioenergy Research and Development pilot plant to bebuilt at the Abengoa corn starch to ethanol plant located at York,Nebraska. This pilot plant is funded by the US Department of Energy and will prove new advances in Biomass Conversion technologiesutilizing the Pretreatment System from SunOpta Inc."

Corn levels can support ethanol

Kearney Hub - Kearney-Area News - 01/30/2006 - Corn levels can support ethanol: "GRAND ISLAND (AP)--There is plenty of corn in Nebraska. That's what the Nebraska Ethanol Board wants to get across to quell rumors that if the state should build more ethanol plants it will run out of corn to fuel them."

Solar-heated communities break new ground in Alberta

This is a modified, active form of passive annual heat storage. The key is storing summer's heat in the ground or water for use in the winter. This technology is our best bet for huge fossil fuel savings in heating buildings.
Solar-heated communities break new ground in Alberta:
by Yvonne Jeffery, for Calgary Herald; CanWest News Service -- Edmonton Journal -- 1/7/2006
"In Okotoks, approximately 800 solar collectors, or panels, will be mounted on garage and breezeway roofs. The heat they collect will be transferred in antifreeze-protected pipes to an energy centre, where, if the heat isn't immediately needed, it will be transferred into water-filled pipes feeding into a 'field' of 144 boreholes drilled 37 metres into the ground. The earth will absorb the water's heat, warming to 80 Celsius by the end of each summer season."

Bush will push green fuel

Plugged In: Bush will push green fuel - Jan. 31, 2006:
by Adam Lashinsky, FORTUNE senior writer
NEW YORK (FORTUNE) - President Bush -- former oil man, son of an oil man, coached by the former chief executive of Halliburton -- will hold forth Tuesday night on why America needs to be doing a better job of promoting renewable fuels."

Bush State of the Union: getting religion on energy?

Bush State of the Union: getting religion on energy? | EnergyBulletin.net | Peak Oil News Clearinghouse:
by William McKenzie, Dallas morning news blog -- 1/30/2006
"Here's one potential big deal in the president's State of the Union speech: A Nixon-goes-to-China on energy issues."

Ethanol and the environment

This blog entry is by the author of a recent study on Ethanol.
The Reality-Based Community: Ethanol and the environment:
by Michael O'Hare -- 1/27/2006
"The specific technology used to make it matters a lot, but what matters more is the crop you start with: ethanol from grass or wood will be a very attractive fuel on energy, global warming, and petroleum displacement grounds. "

Northwest Missouri could get $70M wind farm

Atchison Co. could get $70M wind farm:
by Jimmy Meyers -- St. Joseph News Press -- 1/12/2006
"A wind energy company is tapping Atchison County as its next proposed site for a wind farm--a $70 million project consisting of 24 giant wind turbines that could supply electricity to 30,000 homes."

Can E85 flow into the mainstream of American fuel consumption?

Can E85 flow into the mainstream of American fuel consumption?:
by Jeff Caldwell -- High Plains Journal -- 1/26/2006
"While the fuel sits on the cusp of more widespread acceptance in the Midwest, a few defined steps, namely in the retail and consumer sectors, must be taken in order for this development to take place. Being the epicenter of U.S. corn production, the state of Iowa is a bellwether when it comes to E85."

Capturing energy from the sun

Capturing energy from the sun:
by Chris Poynter -- Louisville courier-journal -- 1/29/2006
"The power was out in Fisherville. It was early January, 33 degrees and snow flurries had started to fall.
Architect Gary Watrous, however, wasn't worried. He knew that the passive-solar house he had designed for Ann Klem and Dean Smith would stay warm because it captures the sun's rays and uses them as heat."

Farmer Owned Ethanol Refineries Finding Success

Reuters Business Channel | Reuters.com:
by Christine Stebbins -- 1/27/2006
"Not only are farmers supplying the key ingredient -- corn -- but they are finding new ways to form alliances which allow them to compete head-to-head against international grain conglomerates like Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Cargill Inc.
More than 45 percent of all the ethanol produced in the United States now comes from farmer-owned plants, thanks to enhanced management systems."

Iowa Coal-burning ethanol plant will have lower energy costs

Coal-burning ethanol plant going up near Nevada - - The Times Republican:
by Ryan Brinks -- 1/29/2006
"'We have a great energy advantage, even over the 2005-built natural gas [powered ethanol] plants. We'll only use one-third to one-fourth of the energy cost of natural gas, simply because of its high cost,' he said."

Biodiesel plant coming to southeast Iowa

Production expected by August, 2006
Biodiesel plant coming to the Heartland:
KTVO TV
"Tri-City Energy, L.L.C. is planning to build a 5 million gallon biodiesel plant in Keokuk. The plant will be built at the corner of Fourth and Johnson Streets."

Making Iowa an Energy capitol

Iowa Politics:
by Chris Dorsey, IowaPolitics.com -- 1/25/2006
"Lawmakers have stressed a need for Iowa to focus on its renewable energy capabilities, and it appears those words are slowly becoming a reality."

Brownfield: Farm state senators urge NASCAR to use ethanol

Brownfield: Farm state senators urge NASCAR to use ethanol:
by Cyndi Young/Andrew McRea -- 1/27/2006
"U.S. Senator Jim Talent (R-Mo.), co-chair of the Senate Biofuels Caucus together with Senators Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) sent a letter to Brian France, CEO of NASCAR, urging NASCAR to use ethanol-blended gasoline in their stock car races."

Vision for meeting energy needs beyond oil

Vision for meeting energy needs beyond oil | EnergyBulletin.net | Peak Oil News Clearinghouse:
by Jeroen van der Veer, chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell -- Financial Times -- 1/24/2006
"But where are we going to find this energy? My view is that �easy� oil has probably passed its peak. But there are other reserves that are still a long way from their peak. In unconventional oil and gas-- resources that are harder to tap--there are plenty of reserves. The oil industry has to explore new frontiers, develop new hydrocarbon energy sources and integrate 'CO2 solutions'."

Study gives mixed review of ethanol

The "mixed review" part refers only to ethanol from corn. This article sees only positives with cellulosic ethanol. Corn ethanol is less desireable insofar as it requires more non-renewable process energy to produce it.
MercuryNews.com | 01/26/2006 | Study gives mixed review of ethanol:
by Mike Taugher, Knight Ridder
"The study, by University of California-Berkeley researchers and published in the journal Science, says earlier studies were wrong to claim ethanol is an ineffective fuel because it takes too much petroleum to produce."

E85 Escape Hybrid: Ford Finally Gets it!

I'd say they're on the way to getting it, but I do want to see optimization for E85 that will avoid any reduction in miles per gallon.
EV World Blogs: Personal Perspectives on the Future In Motion:
1-26-2006
"Here are the three main bullet point from Ford's official press release:
Ford's Escape Hybrid E85 can operate on renewable ethanol-based fuel.
If just 5 percent of the U.S. vehicle fleet were powered by hybrids operating on E85 ethanol, oil imports could be reduced by about 140 million barrels a year.
Escape Hybrid E85 produces about 25 percent less carbon dioxide than a gasoline-fueled Escape Hybrid � already the world's cleanest and most fuel-efficient small SUV. "

How to Beat the High Cost of Gasoline. Forever!

Excellent in-depth article on many aspects of the coming ethanol boom.
How to Beat the High Cost of Gasoline. Forever! - February 06, 2006:
by Adam Lashinsky and Nelson D. Schwartz, FORTUNE magazine -- 1/24/2006
"What's more, powerful political lobbies in Washington that never used to concern themselves with botanical affairs are suddenly focusing on ethanol. 'Energy dependence is America's economic, environmental, and security Achilles' heel,' says Nathanael Greene of the Natural Resources Defense Council, a mainstream environmental group. National- security hawks agree. Says former CIA chief James Woolsey: 'We've got a coalition of tree huggers, do-gooders, sodbusters, hawks, and evangelicals.' (Yes, he did say 'evangelicals'--some have found common ground with greens in the notion of environmental stewardship.)"

Ford to debut 1st ethanol hybrid

Will someone please advise Ford to optimize this engine for E85? Saab has proven with its 9-5 biofuel model that a variable compression boost can allow an engine to get better mileage on E85 than on gasoline. Combine that with hybrid electric technology and we'll have a huge breakthrough that will sell like hotcakes.
Ford to debut 1st ethanol hybrid:
by Justin Hyde -- 1/25/06
"A gallon of ethanol holds less energy than a gallon of gasoline, making mileage worse. Cischke said the Escape Hybrid E85 has about a 25% reduction in fuel economy on E85 than on regular gasoline blends.
Ethanol also can evaporate at lower temperatures than gasoline, which means the Escape Hybrid E85 doesn't meet the 'partial zero emissions vehicle' standard that the regular version does.
'We do have some hurdles we have to solve,' Cischke said. 'But they're not unsolvable.'"

Ford Unveils The Escape Hybrid E85

Truckblog - Ford Unveils The Escape Hybrid E85:
1-25-06
"WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 25, 2006 - An innovative new hybrid research vehicle being developed by Ford Motor Company has a dual mission: help reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

At the Washington Auto Show, Ford unveiled the Ford Escape Hybrid E85, a research vehicle marrying two petroleum-saving technologies � hybrid electric power and flexible-fuel capability. Escape Hybrid E85 is the world�s first hybrid vehicle capable of operating on blends of fuel containing as much as 85 percent ethanol, a renewable fuel that can be produced from American-grown corn or sugar beets. And ethanol use releases no fossil-based CO 2, so its use as a fuel in place of gasoline reduces the release of greenhouse gases. "

pump ethanol? First make it cheaper than gasoline

Bloomberg.com: News & Commentary:
by doron levine -- 1/23/06
"`So much of our fuel cost is based on events we have no control over,' said Phil Lampert, head of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition in Jefferson City, Missouri. `To the extent we can produce more of our own fuel, that's a benefit.'
Lampert has a point. In the past few weeks the stroke that felled Ariel Sharon, Israel's prime minister, and concern over Iran's nuclear policy have sent tremors through world oil markets, sending crude oil prices higher. The price of wholesale gasoline in New York is trading at almost a three-month high.
But without more financial reward for using E85, drivers are more likely to curse bad headlines from abroad, dig deeper in their wallets at the filling station -- and vow to buy a smaller car next time."

Passive Solar Energy Useful in Cutting Energy Costs in Swine Production

Passive Solar Energy Useful in Cutting Energy Costs in Swine Production:
Terry White, Saskatchewan Research Council -- 1/18/2006
"There are projects where they're using solar collectors in the summer to dump energy into the earth and then using heat pumps to bring it back from the earth during the heating season when it's desired."

Petroleum firms turning to geothermal energy & synfuels

Odessa American Online: Serving the Permian Basin of West Texas:
by Bill Modisett, Odessa America -- 1/19/2006
"Richard Erdlac with the UTPB Center for Energy and Economic Diversification told the gathering abandoned oil and gas wells 'might be a gold mine waiting for someone to deepen to get into the hot water zone.'
Erdlac said he is now talking with two oil companies about the prospect of using abandoned wells for geothermal energy production. He said a recent government report noted the deepest wells throughout West Texas had water in them with temperatures nearing 400 degrees...
'The possibility that Texas has for using hot water for generating geothermal energy is fantastic,' he said."

On Keeping Warm

Falls Church News-Press:
By Tom Whipple -- January 19 - 25
"If you heat with natural gas, you must have noticed the price has been going up lately. Well, I have some bad news for you -- this is only the beginning. For the 62 million households heating with natural gas in the United States , the cost of home heating has doubled in the last few years and there is no end in sight."

The Sun Herald | 01/13/2006 | Could Mississippi farmers be the new oil sheiks?

The Sun Herald | 01/13/2006 | Could Mississippi farmers be the new oil sheiks?:
by Wyatt Emmerich
"It's a possibility if more energy sources switch from gas to switchgrass. If David Waide's vision comes true, the United States will no longer be dependent on Arab oil and, instead, all that money will be going into the pockets of Mississippi's farmers"

Fertilizer costs double in past few years

Journal Gazette | 01/12/2006 | Limit fertilizer to control costs, farmers urged:
by Jenni Glenn
"Fertilizer prices have nearly doubled in the past two to three years, said Lynn Reinhart, a DeKalb County farmer who raises crops on about 1,400 acres of land. The price of natural gas, a key ingredient in nitrogen fertilizer, is rising and fueling the high cost of fertilizer. Reinhart expects to pay about 35 cents a pound for the cheapest type of nitrogen fertilizer, anhydrous ammonia, this year."

Biofuel Production, Research Could Come to St. Joseph

An agreement for building ethanol and biodiesel facilities is close to being finalized according to the director of the St. Joseph, Missouri Chamber of Commerce. Speaking on St. Joseph radio station KFEQ, the chamber director said potential ethanol research would investigate new feedstocks from which to make ethanol. St. Joseph is well situated with rail, highway, and river transportation as well as availability of the cellulosic and grain feedstocks for ethanol production. Final word on the project should be coming in a matter of weeks.

Ethanol bills find fans in Missouri Statehouse

Ethanol bills find fans in Statehouse - Columbia Missourian:
by Amanda Schad and Emily Brewer -- 1/12/2006
"Requiring ethanol in all gasoline by '07 is seen as helping more than the farmers."

Wisconsin Ag Secretary Says State Ripe for Bio-refining Breakthrough

wisbusiness:
by Brian E. Clark -- 11/11/2006
"In this state, he said farmers are already using methane digesters to make energy from cow manure. And the forest industry looking exploring ways to produce ethanol, fibers and other products from wood chips before they are turned into paper.
Nilsestuen said he hopes the Legislature will give more incentives to push bio-refining and create opportunities for the state�s farmers and foresters.
'In an ideal world, nothing would be wasted because it would be the foodstock for the next product,' he said. 'It would be a closed loop.'"

Biodiesel guru sees fuel joining mainstream

Biodiesel guru sees fuel joining mainstream | CNET News.com:
by Stefanie Olsen -- 1/10/2006
"'Biodiesel is a piece of a (bigger solution) to lower our energy footprint in the United States. Wind, solar, ethanol, biodiesel, we need all these technologies so that when anything happens in the world we don't get hit with not having anything,' Tickell said."

Already Past the Peak?

Already Past the Peak? | EnergyBulletin.net | Peak Oil News Clearinghouse:
by Rob Hopkins -- 1/11/2006
"If Alberta�s oil sands are the most important source of new oil by 2010 then we are in trouble. The end of the age of cheap oil has indeed arrived. Tar sands are extractable, but with a much higher cost, both financial and environmental. "

Oil: A Bumpy Road Ahead

Oil: A Bumpy Road Ahead | EnergyBulletin.net | Peak Oil News Clearinghouse:
by Kjell Aleklett, President of ASPO -- Published 1/11/2006 by World Watch
"Unfortunately, very few have heeded our alerts, even though the signs have been so obvious that even a blind hen could see them. Fifty years ago the world was consuming 4 billion barrels of oil per year and the average discovery rate (the rate of finding undiscovered oil fields) was around 30 billion barrels per year. Today we consume 30 billion barrels per year and the discovery rate is dropping toward 4 billion barrels per year (see figure). This is significant; Chevron is even running an ad saying, 'The world consumes two barrels of oil for every barrel discovered. So is this something you should be worried about?'"

Survey Says Ethanol Appealing to American Drivers

PR Newswire - A United Business Media Company:
"DETROIT, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Flex-fuel vehicles powered in part by ethanol appeal to the sensibilities of American drivers, so much so that their feeling about an automaker dramatically improves when that manufacturer shows leadership on the subject, according to a new study among vehicle owners conducted by Phoenix Automotive."

Twightlight in the Desert: an interview on peak oil with Matthew Simmons

Japan Focus Article:
by Sandra Ward -- 1/2/2006 -- Originally in Barrons
"Barrons, the weekly magazine for investors published by Dow Jones (publisher of the Wall Street Journal), is a pillar of the American business elite. So when Barrons runs a lengthy article on the 'twilight for oil,' take it as a strong signal that the issue has parked itself squarely in the mindset of the global investor class."

Iogen, VW look to build ethanol plant

U.S. and Canadian companies need to start investing in Cellulosice ethanol as well. It will be huge for renewable fuels.
The Globe and Mail: Iogen, VW look to build ethanol plant:
by Simon Tuck -- 1/9/2006
"Volkswagen AG of Germany and Iogen Corp. say they're considering building the world's first cellulose ethanol plant, a fuel that can be used with standard vehicles but is not yet mass produced.
'We are strongly committed to reducing dependence on fossil fuels,' said VW chief executive officer Bernd Pischetsrieder yesterday in a press release.
Senior officials at the two firms, along with international oil giant Royal Dutch Shell PLC, announced yesterday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit they will conduct a feasibility study into a proposed facility in Germany."

Greenpeace supports Cellulosic Ethanol

Even greenpeace is coming on board.
The Globe and Mail: Iogen, VW look to build ethanol plant:
by Simon Tuck -- 1/9/2006
"Cellulose ethanol is considered one of the more promising alternative fuels and is particularly popular with many environmentalists because it uses agricultural waste and would create a potentially important new market for farmers.
Dave Martin, energy co-ordinator for Greenpeace Canada, said cellulose ethanol is 'a very positive step.' Grain-based ethanol does little or nothing to help the environment, he said, because of the energy and pesticides used to make the corn and other inputs. 'It's a totally different story.'"

Cheap Oil May not Return

WorldOil.com - Online Magazine Article: Special Focus - Dec-2005:
by Dr. D. Nathan Meehan, President, CMG Petroleum Consulting Ltd.
"More and more, our forecasts show only decreased decline rates and 'dragging out the tail,' as increasingly detailed analyses integrate real-time monitoring, intelligent wells and other advanced technology in place in the fields. The easy pickings are long past, and almost all of what once were marginal projects have been completed. We are helping not only independents, but majors and NOCs, pursue projects with ever-climbing costs per barrel and increased risks. "

Gas stations selling ethanol to grow in '06

This article leaves out a crucial point. It's not publicized enough that the Saab 9-5 biopower mentioned at the end of the article gets gas mileage at least as good as the gasoline powered equivalent, making it a solution to the fuel efficiency problem mentioned in the article. It may be coming to the USA.
ALTERNATIVE FUELS: Gas stations selling ethanol to grow in '06:
by Michael Ellis -- Detroit Free Press -- 1/6/2006
"In years past, automakers made many of their trucks capable of burning E85 to comply with federal gas mileage regulations. But they didn't widely promote ethanol use, so consumers were unaware it was available.
That will likely change in 2006 with gas stations installing more pumps, U.S. automakers stepping up their marketing of E85, and more states such as Michigan supporting a fuel that helps farmers."

Saab USA wants a 9-5 powered by ethanol

Automotive News:
by Kathy Jackson -- 1/9/2006
"'We are pushing for this, and I would give it a 9 (on a scale of 1-10) that we will get it,' says Jay Spenchian, general manager of Saab Cars USA Inc. 'This would be a tremendous image booster for us.'"

Governor Sebelius to Lead Governors' Ethanol Coalition - USA

Kansas City infoZine - Governor Sebelius to Lead Governors' Ethanol Coalition - USA:
1/6/2006
"Topeka, Kan. - infoZine - Promoting ethanol has been a key part of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius' efforts to create jobs and reduce the United States' dependence on foreign oil.

Sebelius will continue those efforts this year in her new role as chair of the 32-member Governor's Ethanol Coalition, succeeding Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, whose term expired at the end of December. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman will serve as vice chair of the organization in 2006."

Bomming crude masks pitfalls for oil stocks

Funds News | Reuters.co.uk:
by Lincoln Feast -- 1/9/2005
"So far, oil prices show no immediate signs of cooling, with crude now back above $63 a barrel, having rallied $5 since Christmas.
That puts it comfortably above the $57.34 it is forecast to average in 2006 according to a Reuters poll -- encouraging news for advocates of the sector.
'We believe that the conditions are in place for energy prices to remain higher for longer than the market currently anticipates,' said UBS analyst Jon Rigby."

High Performance Saab Biopower Good for Environment and Pocketbook

Saab Shows Two New Vehicles at LA Motor Show - Automobile.com Auto News:
by Justin Couture -- 1/2/2006
"Using BioPower technology, Saabs engineers managed to extract a truly impressive 310 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque out of the 9-5s 2.3 liter turbocharged motor, when the car is fuelled with ethanol-enriched E85. That marks a 20 percent increase in horsepower (260), and 25 percent more torque (258 lb-ft) over the standard 9-5 Aero, a total output that enables this midsize near-luxury family hauler to scorch past 60 mph in less than six seconds.
While its difficult to believe that merely pouring a new kind of fuel (thats currently available in many North American filling stations) in your tank could yield an extra 20 percent more power, according to Saab its true. When compared to premium unleaded, ethanol has an octane rating equivalent to 108, an amazing 17 points higher, allowing for higher turbo boost, advanced engine timing, without the potentially damaging results of pre-detonation and knocking. "

Price of E85 vs. Gasoline: A Matter of Percentage

Basically, this article is making the point that a set dollar discount for E85 is a better deal as gasoline prices go lower because that discount becomes a bigger percentage discount.
The Minot Daily News: More than just numbers:
by Marvin Baker -- 12/24/2005
"'Remember, 70 cents off at $3 per gallon was a 23 percent savings,' Satrang said. 'So, if gas is $2.20, you need to save 50 cents to be 23 percent cheaper. If your mileage drops 23 percent, you break even. If you can buy E-85 23 percent cheaper, you can afford to lose 23 percent mileage and you would still break even.'"