Give Us BioDiesel Now!

[Don1]

Right now, alternative fuel is now cheaper than gasoline. Do not despair, though, you can still get on board the program. Biodiesel is one solution. There are some stations in the US. Check this out:
http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/distributors/

Also, as a political move, if the Democratic Party supports biodiesel totally in its platform, look at all the farming states it can win back.

And finally, the price in May in Seattle for biodiesel was $2.96/gallon.
http://www.komotv.com/stories/36802.htm

Similar prices are elsewhere...

[markam]

1. It wouldn't be

If you tried to scale biodiesel production up by about 3 orders of magnitude to try to produce enough for this country.

No renewable fuel will allow us to use energy at the rate we do now. We will need to drop energy usage to about 25% of current levels to go to a renewable energy basis. That will not happen without destruction of America as we know it.

[Don1]

3. We do not need to worry about that just yet...

We on DU can start using it first while the price is low or take part in that school bus campaign so we do not have children breathing in fumes all the time, etc...

But won't alternative fuel, too, be a good competitition for normal fuel as far as prices go? Wouldn't it keep them in check, sort of?

[iconoclastNYC]

11. I'm sorry but we can do it.

I've seen plans to make biodisel from algea.

If our government had the will we could have started down this path 20-30 years ago and we'd have the economy of scale to compete against imported oil.

Add the price of middle east security into the price of gas and its true cost is probably over $5-6 a gallon.

[AllyCat]

2. We've looked into making biodiesel in the garage

The problem is that while it is okay to make it for yourself and maybe do a co-op with others, to sell it is illegal. The biggest reason I have heard (from biodiesel enthusiasts) is that the government can't figure out how to charge road taxes on it like they do gasoline and traditional diesel.

However, I'm getting ready to do this if the price keeps going up.

[Chemical Bill]

8. I've been buying it for over two years.

It's problematic for homebrewers to sell it, but not strictly illegal. I don't suggest buying homebrew anyway, as QC testing is prohibitivly expensive. There's a user forum at biodieselnow.com and several homebrewer forums. But no, there isn't enough made right now to replace more than 1 or 2% of our diesel usage, let alone gasoline. We need a "manhatten project" type focus. I don't expect one, as it's difficult to keep this under corporate control, what with homebrewers and all.

Bill

[AllyCat]

9. That's cool Bill. I'll have to check out that site.

There was a site from a group in Japan that had set up what appeared to be the safest way to make biodiesel at home. They said they knew it took longer, but insisted it was safer than what books like "from the Fryer to the Fuel Tank" espoused in their methods.

Cannot remember the site link any more, but could probably Google it with more time than I have right now.

[Chemical Bill]

10. There's a girl in California...

Isn't there always "a girl in California"? I think Led Zepplin wrote a song about her. Anyway, she sells plans for a biodiesel processor made from an electric water heater. Anybody can make one for around $600. There's a link at BDN. You're right that Tickell's plans leave something to be desired (safety). I give him credit for getting the word out. And his chapters about petroleum production around the Texas-Louisiana border are chilling.

Bill

[Don1]

13. There are biodiesel stations already.

There is nothing illegal about that type.

[OneTwentyoNine]

4. And...we could have TEN times as many cars running on E85 NOW...

Reducing fossil fuel usuage in those cars by 85%. Of course there are still just very few engines in newer cars that will run on that fuel.

Funny,hardly any new cars were added to the E85 list last year. This isn't about having enough fuel,its always been about protecting the interests of the Oil companies.

[Vinca]

5. Biodiesel would be a great solution if the government got 100%

behind it and made it happen. (Yoo hoo, Democrats, where are you????) It seems like a win-win situation for this country. Farmers are currently paid NOT to grow corn. That would end. Farmers who grow tobacco could switch to corn. Oil prices would eventually come back down when the Saudis and the oil companies realized the bonanza was over. We have to do something.

[Massacure]

6. No, not corn. Algae.

Algae makes much more oil per acre than corn.

[slor]

7. Support H.R. 3037...

call your representatives.

[LostinVA]

15. And rapeseed and hemp

[Don1]

14. Yes.

It's a win-win situation for another reason, too. Look at what national regions own biodiesel distributorships? It's the midwest red states. They can be won back...the farmers there would be all for such a program.

http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/distributors/

[maxsolomon]

12. Biodiesel, sure. Energy Freedom is the theme.

we cannot continue to drive at the rates we do now. there is not enough acreage to grow adequate food & fuel simultaneously. even if you pull up all the bullshit warehouses built on fertile bottomland in the last 20 years (nearly an entire valley paved over in seattle in that time), there isn't enough.

Denmark is leading in renewables, and they're happy to have us join them. Energy Freedom would have got Kerry elected. dems better get on that shit before the GOP does. we've left that life preserver floating out there for them to grab. it should have been OUR issue in 2000. but no, no one cares until the crisis is on them.

[Chemical Bill]

16. We can grow enough food and fuel...

if we use better oil crops than soybeans. If we let ADM lead, we had better tighten up our belts and get used to light meals. Algae farms, for example, don't need topsoil, and can use sewage as algae feed. Hemp, while not the best oil crop, has other uses and can be grown in sand. And remember that it takes 17 times more land for meat protein than veggie protein.

Bill

[maxsolomon]

18. i hope you are right

i still don't think a fleet of biodiesel hummers is viable.

[tulsakatz]

17. I have a question

I don't know much about biodiesel, in fact the first time I heard about it was last week on Maher's show.

My question is this.......do you have to have a diesel car to use biodiesel?

[Chemical Bill]

19. Yes, you need a diesel engine. n/t