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1outlaw
Joined: 15 Feb 2006
Posts: 89
Location: Central Wisconsin
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 Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 7:37 pm Post subject: EPA 2% Oxygenate Rule Change |
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| The oxygenate rule change should certainly have a supressing effect on E85 pricing at least in the short run. This will encourage more ethanol producers to direct market E85 instead of trying to sell ethanol thru oil companies who mark it up too much. My only fear will be if it should cause investors to become too cautious in ethanol plant investments then the industry will not grow fast enough to make a serious dent in the gasoline market. Will this allow oil companies to continue building walls against a competitor such as Wisconsin's ethanol minimum markup rule which requires 9.18% markup over the oil companies already marked up price. |
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Revision
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 194
Location: Carol Stream, IL
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| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:43 am Post subject: |
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http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060221/BUSINESS/602210312
Another Biodiesel article.
This one looks at a new chemical reactor that is about half the size of a thick credit card which can convert seed oils to biodiesel.
I've been hitting up the Oregon State University web site looking for more information or pictures, but no luck.
If anyone has more information on this, please share. |
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Revision
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 194
Location: Carol Stream, IL
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| Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 8:06 am Post subject: Supreme Court throws out lawsuit against oil companies |
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http://csnews.com/csn/petroleum/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002076435
| Quote: | | Justices unanimously said gas distributors did not prove that the oil companies violated antitrust laws in the joint venture, which ended four years ago. |
I guess this signals an ok to the oil companies to raise prices again this summer. Also on that note, it looks like this is a decision to a case that is 4 years old. Which says to me that we are not likely to see a resolution to last year's gas price hikes for a while yet.
Just another reason to switch over to e85.  |
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Revision
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 194
Location: Carol Stream, IL
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| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 8:19 am Post subject: |
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http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/35523/story.htm
This news article is about Washington jumping on the "Where is my E85 pump" bandwagon and oil companies claiming it isn't their responsibility to install E85 pumps.
The gist is that the oil companies don't own the local gas station, and they don't have influence to force the owners to install E85 pumps. The oil companies are quoted as claiming that it takes $200,000 to install an e85 tank and pump. Can anyone verify this?
Here is the point I'd like to put up for discussion.
How would you convince/encourage/strongarm gas station owners to put in an E85 pump?
For instance, Illinois is already trying incentives.
Various politicians have tried leaning on the oil industry.
Will it be a consumer decision to use more E85 or is it a price point problem? |
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BURNALCOHOL
Joined: 19 Oct 2005
Posts: 50
Location: Raymond,NE
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| Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:31 am Post subject: No Shortage |
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No shortage,
Ethanol officials say they're not responsible for surging gas prices.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12248902/
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Jeremy Nicholls |
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Revision
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 194
Location: Carol Stream, IL
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specialgreen
Site Admin
Joined: 10 Jul 2004
Posts: 259
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
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| Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:47 am Post subject: NYTimes report implies ethanol problem |
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David Kocieniewski and Vikas Bajaj reported in the NYTimes today that "East Coast Drivers Face Gas Shortages". Their article seems to indicate problems distributing ethanol to the northeast, and distributing ethanol-blended fuels to servicestations:
| Quote: | | Scattered gasoline shortages and higher pump prices could make it a difficult week for East Coast drivers. Refineries and service stations are scrambling to change to ethanol-based fuel before the federal deadline on May 5 and the start of the summer driving season... Ethanol-based gasoline is more expensive, and the average price is already above $3 in Washington and New York... Transporting ethanol from the Midwest, where it is derived from corn, has proven to be a challenge. |
That seems to imply that there is some federal deadline for use of ethanol, and that there are problems distributing ethanol. However, more reading reveals the real cause of the "problem":
| Quote: | | A federal energy bill passed last year ended the requirement that motor fuel contain an oxygenate additive like MTBE...Some refineries said the federal requirement to an additive gave them legal immunity from liability suits related to MTBE contamination of water. The companies are hurrying to switch to ethanol because they fear that the protection will lapse after the law takes effect on May 6. |
So the truth is that a few parts of the country continued to use MTBE, until they perceived that they will be liable for the consequences. Now they are hurrying to switch to ethanol, because producing high-octane fuels without MTBE or ethanol is expensive (not because of any federal ethanol requirement). And they are getting caught trying to switch from one cheap fuel to another cheap fuel, without sufficient supply lines in place.
A better headline would have read "Fearing liability, remaining MTBE blenders finally switch to ethanol in a panic." |
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BURNALCOHOL
Joined: 19 Oct 2005
Posts: 50
Location: Raymond,NE
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| Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060426.RGASOLINE26/TPStory/Business
From this article:
(Although Mr. Bush is calling for the construction of new refineries, the oil industry is not yet willing to gamble billions on what has been a paltry source of profits.)
I thought the whole reason for not building a new refinery was the EPA regulations. It turns out it's because it isn't profitable for the poor little oil companies. Who would of thought?
From the article:
(Mr. Bush also said he wanted Congress to take away from the oil companies about $2-billion in tax breaks over 10 years, such as subsidizing research into deepwater drilling. He said the tax breaks are unnecessary at a time of "record oil prices and large cash flows.")
And the oil companies are bitching about the 51 cent/gallon tax break on E85?
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Jeremy Nicholls |
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Corn Squeezins
Joined: 14 Dec 2005
Posts: 42
Location: Madison, WI
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| Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:59 pm Post subject: 60 Minutes show on ethanol |
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Their is a 60 Minutes feature online from last sundays show online now (05/11/06) at
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml
or go to www.cbs.com and ck out 60 minutes (sun) on the links
hopefully a little more has sneaked out into the gen. public with more shows such as this trying to explain that their are some alternatives to
(being an ostrich with it's head in the sand) about oil as the be all and end all for powering our vehicles.... |
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Revision
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 194
Location: Carol Stream, IL
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| Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 10:48 am Post subject: Announcment: Industry's first UL approved E85 fuel dispenser |
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http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060531/20060531005625.html?.v=1
| Quote: | | May 31, 2006--As interest in ethanol as a viable alternative fuel continues to rise, Dresser Wayne is introducing the industry's first Weights and Measures- and UL-approved E85 fuel dispenser. |
File this under, 'wow I never realized that before'.
Maybe now we will see more E85 pumps now that there is a fully approved E85 fuel dispenser.. Might also explain why I haven't seen a E85 pump that accepts credit cards yet... |
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1outlaw
Joined: 15 Feb 2006
Posts: 89
Location: Central Wisconsin
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| Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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The Dresser Wayne pump might encourage a few retailers to move forward but I want to see a fully compatable UL blender pump so that I can offer e10, e20, & e85 at the same dispenser with just 2 tanks. I do now but when such a pump does come out I know our state will require us to upgrade which may cost as little as $3000 per dispenser if a kit is released or $30,000 to replace a dispenser and bust concrete to install a different base. The sooner the better before we get too many sites built.
Our sites have cash accepters and credit card readers in them already but they are unmodified Gilbarco blender pumps. |
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Revision
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 194
Location: Carol Stream, IL
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| Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 7:39 pm Post subject: Ethanol Competition |
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http://www.forbes.com/business/2006/06/20/ethanol-fuel-biobutanol-cz_kad_0620ethanol.html?partner=rss
BP and Dupont have announced a new biofuel that is made from fermenting sugars.
Biobutanol has 30% more energy than ethanol and can be used as a direct substitute or blended with gasoline. It supposedly has a greater tolerance for moisture and lower vapor pressure. No word on octane rating or other properties of the fuel or the cold start ability. |
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dekums
Joined: 29 Jun 2006
Posts: 1
Location: New York
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 1:26 am Post subject: Searching for E85 video |
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Link to Associated Press videos about trying to find ethanol while driving cross country...
http://asap.ap.org/stories/692924.s
Parts 3 and 4 can be found Thursday at:
asap.ap.org |
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Revision
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 194
Location: Carol Stream, IL
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| Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 4:15 pm Post subject: Blackstone Labs Tests Homebrew Biodiesel |
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June 2006 News Article from Blackstone Labs (yes the oil analysis people) about Biodiesel with an oil sample showing what a bad batch of homebrew biodiesel will do to your engine...
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/newsletter.html |
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Revision
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 194
Location: Carol Stream, IL
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| Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:35 am Post subject: Nighmare for some of you..Marathon to own Ethanol Plants |
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http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060710/cgm023.html?.v=57
The Andersons Inc and Marathon oil announced a 50/50 venture to construct and operate ethanol plants.. I guess this means we'll see Marathon brand ethanol being sold sometime late next year...
I wonder what this will do to some of the private farmer owned plants if the trend continues...
Updates continue on this story here:
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ahtSzogDnz9M
Last edited by Revision on Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:27 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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