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September 29, 2005
Minnesota becomes first US state to require biodiesel
I ignored this event initially because the first versions of the story focused on Bush and the radical right wing governor of Minnesota instead of on the technology and the future. Too much propaganda and not enough America for my taste. But this article moved those to minor side items and instead focused on the important stuff...the fact that no big corporation did this, but a cooperative of farmers built more biodiesel production than existed in the entire country before their collaboration. Unfortunately until the Republicans are removed from office this is how Americans are going to have to work to save their country. On the other article, I also had to bring in the smackdown on a braindead Neo-con disinformation lackey that was trying to start the rumor that production of biodiesel harms the US because it's SO inefficient. I literally saw red. The Republicans have been using the data from 1970's for years to justify the fact that alternative fuels aren't worth the time and money we invest in them. Yet if you read the research in the 30 years since, you see a very different picture emerging. Ethanol is now 1.34 to 1 ratio of energy in to energy out. Biodiesel is now at 3.2 to 1 ratio of energy in to energy out. And that's still assuming that they are using regular fuels to collect and transport the stuff to market. Of course the reality is that they would probably start using their own biofuels in their vehicles which would easily offset the pollution. Oh and for those of you that don't know the ratio for Oil is .805 to 1. Yes, that's a net energy loss, it's of course slightly better for diesel .845 to 1. The point is the only thing that has been keeping us from upgrading has been the Republican efforts to sabotage the infrastructure for moving us to American made, American grown and American used fuel technology. Why? Because it moves the wealth from the Republican campaign contributors to the hands of the American farmer. And more importantly than that they lose the ever looming threat of a crisis in the Middle East. I mean where would they be as a party if the oil funded terrorist organizations weren't being funded by the American people to work against us? It's time for Americans to start standing up for America and getting rid of all the vestiges of the radical right wing agenda.
Read more here.
Posted by ManDrake at September 29, 2005 7:50 AM
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Comments
The American Lung Association of Minnesota is a big supporter of biodiesel and E85, both cleaner-burning alternative fuels widely available in our state.
See our website for more info:
www.CleanAirChoice.org
Posted by: Bob from the ALAMN at September 29, 2005 10:25 AM
Great news Bob. I've never really thought about it from that perspective, but the long term health benefits from Ethanol and Biodiesel will probably save this country billions of dollars in future health costs by cleaning up the air that we breath. I was curious what the price difference between Ethanol and regular gas, 70 cents cheaper in some places is great news!! You'll never hear that in the Republican controlled media. Do you guys have the numbers on how much cheaper Biodiesel is per gallon?
Posted by: ManDrake at September 29, 2005 11:45 AM
Our Ag Secretary says B2 is selling about 35 cents a gallon less than petro-diesel. I havn't had chance to confirm that price.
Our E85 price forum on www.cleanairchoice.org lets consumers find the best prices on the cleaner-burning fuel.
To give the GOP its due, we have strong bi-partisan support for biofuels in Minnesota (about the only thing both sides agree on!). They may have different reasons for supporting biofuels, but what the hey, it's working!
Posted by: Bob from the ALAMN at September 29, 2005 1:34 PM
I don't know Bob, I've been trying to give them their due, and I'm having no luck. I'll give it another try this weekend and see if I can find some way to pull it off.
Posted by: ManDrake at September 30, 2005 10:00 AM