A simple solution to pain at the pump?

Saw this story last night on NBC. I am sure there are those here that will contest the possibility's of this but felt this story was worthy of the DU audience.










http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12676374/

On edit: I posted questions before, but found answers at Willie Nelson's site...

Willie Nelson's been marketing "biodiesal" for a long time -- is this the same thing? Or does it work in non-diesel engines?

Farm Fresh Biodiesel
http://www.wnbiodiesel.com/



We sell Biodiesel, which is the name of a clean burning, renewable diesel fuel replacement made from vegetable oils or animal fats. The methyl ester of vegetable oil or what we now call Biodiesel is very similar to the petrochemical based diesel fuel that it replaces, so does not require any vehicle or storage modifications.

The main benefits derived from using Biodiesel come from the reduction in tail pipe emissions and the diesel fuel consumer can now ensure that their fuel money stays in America rather than going overseas.

Mixing Biodiesel with Petro-Diesel

We sell blends of Biodiesel

Biodiesel can be used as a pure fuel or blended with petroleum in any percentage. B5, a blend of 5% Biodiesel and 95% by volume of petroleum diesel has shown improvements in performance, enhanced lubricity and some reduction in emissions. A blend of 20 percent by volume Biodiesel with 80 percent by volume petroleum diesel called B20, has demonstrated significant environmental benefits with a minimum increase in cost.

Why use Biodiesel?

The main benefit derived from using Biodiesel comes from the reduction in emissions generated when using this biodegradable, low toxicity fuel. These emission benefits are gained all the while you are using a fuel that is made from a fully renewable energy source, grown right here in the USA.

* Biodiesel reduces carbon dioxide exhaust emissions by up to 80%.
* Biodiesel produces 100% less sulfur dioxide than petroleum based diesel, and sulfur dioxide is the major component of acid rain.
* Biodiesel reduces exhaust smoke (particulates) emissions by up to 75% so the usual black cloud associated with a diesel engine can be eliminated.
* The smell of the biodiesel exhaust is far more pleasant than petroleum based diesel, some times smelling like pop corn or doughnuts if the fuel is made from a waste vegetable oil feedstock.
* Biodiesel smells better than diesel fuel so it is a pleasant experience re-filling the vehicle's tank.
* Biodiesel is much easier to handle and does not require mechanics to use barrier cream on their hands to protect the skin from cracking or redness.
* Biodiesel is much less dangerous to put in a vehicles fuel tank as the flash point of biodiesel is ± 150°C (300°F) as opposed to petroleum diesel which is at ± 70°C (150°F).
* Biodiesel degrades about 4 times faster than petroleum diesel after spillage, with most of a spill broken down after just 28 days.
* Biodiesel provides significant lubricity improvement over petroleum diesel fuel so engines last longer, with the right additives engine performance can also be enhanced.
* Low Sulfur and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel require additives to add the lubricity back into the fuel, biodiesel is a totally renewable additive for this role and complements the use of ULSD.
* Biodiesel reduces the classic diesel engine "knocking" noise.
* Biodiesel does not require any changes to the existing storage infrastructure so can be used in any tank or storage facility right away.
* Biodiesel can be mixed in with existing diesel to create various mixtures like a B5 or B20 blend.
* A diesel engined vehicle does not need to be modified in anyway to use biodiesel.

Alternative fuel Performance

Biodiesel's most noted attribute highlighted by consumers is the similar operating performance to conventional diesel fuel. Biodiesel has a very similar energy value per gallon as petrodiesel, so there is no need to compromise vehicle performance when using this alternative fuel. Blending biodiesel with petroleum diesel in small percentages of around 5%, will actually improve the engines performance and with the right additives, increase mileage.

Infrastructure

Splash blended Biodiesel. The beauty of biodiesel as an alternative, renewable fuel is that the standard storage and handling procedures used for petroleum diesel can also be used for biodiesel. There is no problem mixing biodiesel with diesel fuel in storage tanks or in vehicles.

One of the largest roadblocks to the use of alternative fuels is the need for new storage facilities and modifications to the vehicle. Vehicles powered by CNG, LNG and many other alternative fuels have to stay within range of their fueling infrastructure, which limits their range of operation. Biodiesel suffers none of these issues.



http://www.biodiesel.org/

http://running_on_alcohol.tripod.com/id24.html

Big fields of corn. I mean big.

The cost to plant the seeds and harvest them is pretty high; farm machinery is one of those neglected areas in terms of conservation.

Is the net gain worth the upfront cost? That's what the anal-retentive, calculator-up-the-bum bottom-line whacko economists want to know.

So I wanna know too.

And why subsidize that and not other forms of "alternative" energy?

But when push comes to shove I'd rather subsidize small farmers than Big Oil...

:)

not small farmers.

There are still *small farmers* -- and if we could subsidize organic farmers - well ->

:woohoo:

since 1980 the govt policy has been to support corporate farming...really big farms and so most small farmers, family farmers are gone.

Corporate farms farm huge tracts of land, use really big equipment and all of the gm seed and petro chemicals that they can. This has all been good for big oil and the grain corps but not good for family farms or the people who eat the food produced by this method. Industrial ag is not good for any of us.

If they were using wind power or solar power to produce the ethanol, then this might be a better idea. But there is still the incredible amount of oil that goes into producing every bushel of grain.