Bullzeye responded with an insightful response to my Blog entry Red Light Green Light:
...“The solution model is in Brazil! How they (have) done this change to an ethanol fuel base is well documented...I suppose if we follow it, many in the world would think we're a 3rd world power...but would it change the "power of oil"...you bet.�
Brazil has reached energy independence after 30 years with the use of home grown ethanol. The United States is more oil dependent than it was 30 years ago.
The Brazilian decision to use ethanol came about in 1975, about the same time we were waiting on gas lines in big Chryslers during the Arab Oil Crisis. Military leaders of the time got sick of the world oil market wrecking their economy. Since 1985, Brazil is considered a democracy, although the president has extensive executive powers.
Brazil’s ethanol program was instituted by military leaders. We have a free-market system. At least it’s free if you have a lot of money.
Although 30 years of the Brazilian program have left consumers with several choices at the fuel pump, and they have achieved energy independence, I don’t think the United States can take the same path. We don’t have military leaders dictating. And if we did or if our current leaders took action and came up with a plan, someone would get greedy, gain power along the way and flip it to make profit at the expense of the general population.
This transition away from oil in a capitalist economy and political system is all about the consumer getting off the couch.
We use less oil, the price goes down. If we get creative with biodiesel, ethanol, bicycles and feet, petroleum oil use goes down. If we support the few companies who provide us with tools (hybrid, flex fuel, diesel), even if they seem like baby steps, other companies will follow and ramp up research and development to meet the demand. We need to elect officials who are genuinely concerned about all our futures and don’t wait until oil is $75 a barrel to take to Air Force One (burning thousands of gallons of petroleum jet fuel) to praise the merits of hydrogen.
It took Brazil 30 years to reach energy independence; we have just started fumbling with the idea.
Link here to see my videos and the still images that go with them.
Link here to see my current still photo archive.
Link to my other blog entries in Photoblog
Glad you liked the "idea"(policy)about Brazil. I do think that "we" can do this even WITH our current type of presidency. Would be better for all IF everyone(Congress, auto manufactures, oil companies AND the public) cooperated as was back before WWII...it took a "suggestion" from FDR for GM, FORD and a few other companies to change over to making military equipment(threat of taking over there company...war powers act/national security). Sorta what Brazil "told" GM IF they wanted to build/sell cars/trucks in Brazil. So, they only make "Flex-fueled" vehicles ...too bad GM (and the oil companies) does NOT want you or me to purchase these vehicles here. THEY think it will upset the world economy..not so...only their profits from oil. They'll get it back from ethanol sales from the cornfields/land they own in the mid-west. Plus I think the "futures price" of oil will plummet to near $20 a barrel. The Middle East would be "shocked and awed" by this change...don't ya think??
From my research of the Brazil ethanol move...the oil companies, if they had a "fuel station" was mandated to pump "ALL" fuels not just gas. If not, they couldn't sell gas. So there "stations" have gas, diesel, kerosene, ethanol.
With this move...the oil produced in this country maybe enough for the other industies that use the "refined oil products" (think plastics/industirial lubricants).
Just a few more thoughts.
There is a selection of new flex fuel vehicles to choose from right now. A flexible fueled vehicle can run on any mixture of ethanol and gasoline. Ford promoted the technology in the 1980s.
For 2006 flex fuel can be found in anything from a Chevrolet Monte Carlo to a Nissan Titan.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byfueltype.htm
I know of an old Ford Ranger pickup running around Perry County with an ethanol logo on it. The vehicles are out there. The ethanol infrastructure is another story.
I'm aware of all those that are now producing "new" cars like you have listed and many from the past. This IS some of the problem. The auto makers want some kind of guarentee that IF they make these autos(they can but won't)and they don't sell...whose gonna pay. The answer that they want is "government subsidy"! The same goes for the "oil companies"...with the need for change over, loss of profit margins (gasoline) and a contrived transportation cost increase(more trucks/barges no piplines at this time). They want the government to pay for more pipelines. These "conditions" are what is holding up this mess.
Check with Sen Santoruim about the $600 million he got into the "Energy Bill" for making coal slag into a slurry and re-processing to make a coal gas/coal gasoline. A company or two near Pittsburg got over a $100 for R&D??? They already know "what/how" to make this stuff from way back. They want more money for "building the plants" than anything. The already have the research done.
This is what get me mad about this "crisis"...it should not have been! All those that are in this problem want you and me to pay for the product more than once. They want "us" the public (taxpayer) to pay for this many, many times over.
Windfall taxes are not the answer here, free enterprise in this area should be "government regulated" to a bigger degree than we have now for economic stability. Hence my call for "mandatory manufacturing practices" for national security.
Nice conversation Paul!
The recent ethanol additive shortage/transportation issue is an example of questionable manipulation practices.
Congress mandated that MTBE, a gasoline additive widely used and thought to contaminate ground water and cause cancer, be replaced with ethanol for the Summer driving season. So as the deadline looms, guess what, we have an adequate supply, but there is a “shortage� in the supply chain and we can’t get enough ethanol to refineries and the price of gasoline goes up.
What is the incentive to make the switchover work when those who will profit make more profit by creating a shortage?
The oil companies had a years' notice or more to do this switch. They have "semi-unintentionally" waited till the last 2-3 weeks of the deadline (to switch out the gas to ethanol). DUH? Chance to get the price outta sight. Kinda like the company I worked for...we got a new process to get running. Need your help...gotta get it done...hurry, hurry, hurry...six months later...why isn't it done? Don't know, it ain't me, I only run the machine. I can't without the basic need...the material.:-(
Listening to the Prez's energy speech as I write this. Glad I understand stupid.:-)