quote:

On Dec. 19, 2007, President Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act. This legislation had several positive features, including higher fuel standards for cars and greater investment in renewable energies such as solar power.

However, the bill required a huge spike in the biofuel production requirement, from 7.5 billion gallons in 2012 to 36 billion in 2022.

This was a well-intentioned measure, but it was also impractical. Nearly all our domestic corn and grain supply is needed to meet this mandate, robbing the world of one of its most important sources of food.

We are already seeing the ill effects of this measure. Last year, 25% of America's corn crop was diverted to produce ethanol. In 2008, that number will grow to 30%-35%, and it will soar even higher in the years to come.

Furthermore, the trend of farmers supplanting other grains with corn is decreasing the supply of numerous agricultural products. When the supply of those products goes down, the price inevitably goes up.

Subsequently, the cost of feeding farm and ranch animals increases and the cost is passed to consumers of beef, poultry and pork products.

Since February 2006, the price of corn, wheat and soybeans has increased by more than 240%. Rising food prices are hitting the pockets of lower-income Americans and people who live on fixed incomes.

While the blame for higher costs shouldn't rest exclusively with biofuels — drought and rising oil costs are contributing factors — the expansion of biofuels has been a major source of the problem.

<more>

quote:

Originally posted by Jade_Gate:
Congress must take action. I am introducing legislation that will freeze the biofuel mandate at current levels, instead of steadily increasing it through 2022.

quote:

Originally posted by floersh:

quote:

Originally posted by Jade_Gate:
Congress must take action. I am introducing legislation that will freeze the biofuel mandate at current levels, instead of steadily increasing it through 2022.

Duuuhhhh.. Only people who want to see mankind die and be replaced by animals and nature (aka the eco-nazi movement) would even suggest such a stupid idea as biofuel..

quote:

Originally posted by ArmyRet95:
Just as an addition or side note, Biofuels can include other biomass, you do not have to use food crops. Some things such as Saw grass and Algae are perfect examples of biomass that could change the way the US drives and produces fuel. Instead of killing the bill, they just need to change it to remove food crops from the legislation and ensure it includes other types of biomass. This legislation is not a bad idea, just incomplete and poorly thought out. All we really had to do to get a leg up, was to check with the Europeans and read their report of their problems with the 2003 European legislation on Biofuels and we could have and still can skip half the problems. It is time for Biofuels, Biodiesel and Ethanol in the US, now before it really is too late.

quote:

Originally posted by ArmyRet95:
Just as an addition or side note, Biofuels can include other biomass, you do not have to use food crops. Some things such as Saw grass and Algae are perfect examples of biomass that could change the way the US drives and produces fuel. Instead of killing the bill, they just need to change it to remove food crops from the legislation and ensure it includes other types of biomass. This legislation is not a bad idea, just incomplete and poorly thought out. All we really had to do to get a leg up, was to check with the Europeans and read their report of their problems with the 2003 European legislation on Biofuels and we could have and still can skip half the problems. It is time for Biofuels, Biodiesel and Ethanol in the US, now before it really is too late.

quote:

Originally posted by EAG154:
One tenth of the state of New Mexico will supply all our energy needs!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyoKTbxerpQ

quote:

Originally posted by jdksfcret:
My son, who will graduate this month with a degree in agricultural from West Virgina University; is part of a study of abandoned surface mines for there suitability for growing switchgrass for ethanol production.

DEP partners with WVU to study switchgrass on former surface mines

biofuel - switch grass

We should all be optimistic that we can use other means for weaning our country off of oil.

quote:

Originally posted by SUNLINER81:

quote:

Originally posted by floersh:

quote:

Originally posted by Jade_Gate:
Congress must take action. I am introducing legislation that will freeze the biofuel mandate at current levels, instead of steadily increasing it through 2022.

Duuuhhhh.. Only people who want to see mankind die and be replaced by animals and nature (aka the eco-nazi movement) would even suggest such a stupid idea as biofuel..

Actually, if the correct "bio fuel" is used, such as biobutanol, there would never have been this problem to begin with. Please look up biobutanol and see why it is a not only a sensible but better alternative to ethanol and would actually benefit us and not harm us or the worlds food situation. Biobutanol is totally compatible with existing engines and you won't need a "flex fuel" vehicle to run it, has more BTUs than ethanol and is compatible with the existing fuel storage and transfer systems, ethanol isn't. It blends well with diesel and prevents paraffin build up in diesel in the winter. Oh, yeah, it can be produced from the waste from food crops, i.e. carrot tops and corn stalks left over after harvest and from saw grass, not to mention the wet garbage from city dumps, sugar cane, sugar beets, but most importantly, like I said earlier, saw grass and it is more cost effective to produce than ethanol. Gee can you tell that I'm sold on biobutanol?...
Respectfully, SUNLINER81

quote:

Originally posted by Jade_Gate:
Congress must take action. I am introducing legislation that will freeze the biofuel mandate at current levels, instead of steadily increasing it through 2022.

quote:

On Dec. 19, 2007, President Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act. This legislation had several positive features, including higher fuel standards for cars and greater investment in renewable energies such as solar power.

However, the bill required a huge spike in the biofuel production requirement, from 7.5 billion gallons in 2012 to 36 billion in 2022.

This was a well-intentioned measure, but it was also impractical. Nearly all our domestic corn and grain supply is needed to meet this mandate, robbing the world of one of its most important sources of food.

We are already seeing the ill effects of this measure. Last year, 25% of America's corn crop was diverted to produce ethanol. In 2008, that number will grow to 30%-35%, and it will soar even higher in the years to come.

Furthermore, the trend of farmers supplanting other grains with corn is decreasing the supply of numerous agricultural products. When the supply of those products goes down, the price inevitably goes up.

Subsequently, the cost of feeding farm and ranch animals increases and the cost is passed to consumers of beef, poultry and pork products.

Since February 2006, the price of corn, wheat and soybeans has increased by more than 240%. Rising food prices are hitting the pockets of lower-income Americans and people who live on fixed incomes.

While the blame for higher costs shouldn't rest exclusively with biofuels — drought and rising oil costs are contributing factors — the expansion of biofuels has been a major source of the problem.

<more>

quote:

Originally posted by 6837602:

quote:

Originally posted by SUNLINER81:

quote:

Originally posted by floersh:

quote:

Originally posted by Jade_Gate:
Congress must take action. I am introducing legislation that will freeze the biofuel mandate at current levels, instead of steadily increasing it through 2022.

Duuuhhhh.. Only people who want to see mankind die and be replaced by animals and nature (aka the eco-nazi movement) would even suggest such a stupid idea as biofuel..

Actually, if the correct "bio fuel" is used, such as biobutanol, there would never have been this problem to begin with. Please look up biobutanol and see why it is a not only a sensible but better alternative to ethanol and would actually benefit us and not harm us or the worlds food situation. Biobutanol is totally compatible with existing engines and you won't need a "flex fuel" vehicle to run it, has more BTUs than ethanol and is compatible with the existing fuel storage and transfer systems, ethanol isn't. It blends well with diesel and prevents paraffin build up in diesel in the winter. Oh, yeah, it can be produced from the waste from food crops, i.e. carrot tops and corn stalks left over after harvest and from saw grass, not to mention the wet garbage from city dumps, sugar cane, sugar beets, but most importantly, like I said earlier, saw grass and it is more cost effective to produce than ethanol. Gee can you tell that I'm sold on biobutanol?...
Respectfully, SUNLINER81

"saw grass"

switch grass

quote:

Originally posted by jdksfcret:
My son, who will graduate this month with a degree in agricultural from West Virgina University; is part of a study of abandoned surface mines for there suitability for growing switchgrass for ethanol production.

DEP partners with WVU to study switchgrass on former surface mines

biofuel - switch grass

We should all be optimistic that we can use other means for weaning our country off of oil.

quote:

Originally posted by 6837602:

quote:

Originally posted by jdksfcret:
My son, who will graduate this month with a degree in agricultural from West Virgina University; is part of a study of abandoned surface mines for there suitability for growing switchgrass for ethanol production.

DEP partners with WVU to study switchgrass on former surface mines

biofuel - switch grass

We should all be optimistic that we can use other means for weaning our country off of oil.

As the 8 years of the American disgrace comes to an end and we reid our selves of this corrupt regime in Washington you will see a rapid and irreversible switch to switch grass based fuel.



Corn will go back to the food supply and we will be driving clean fuel efficient cars.



The switch grass based fuels will be produced by American farmers and the profits derived will be spent in the US.

quote:

Originally posted by godawgz:

quote:

Originally posted by ArmyRet95:
Just as an addition or side note, Biofuels can include other biomass, you do not have to use food crops. Some things such as Saw grass and Algae are perfect examples of biomass that could change the way the US drives and produces fuel. Instead of killing the bill, they just need to change it to remove food crops from the legislation and ensure it includes other types of biomass. This legislation is not a bad idea, just incomplete and poorly thought out. All we really had to do to get a leg up, was to check with the Europeans and read their report of their problems with the 2003 European legislation on Biofuels and we could have and still can skip half the problems. It is time for Biofuels, Biodiesel and Ethanol in the US, now before it really is too late.

A smart man can learn from his mistakes.. a wise man can learn from the mistakes of others..
I would hesitate to accuse our politicians of being either...

quote:

Originally posted by SUNLINER81:

quote:

Originally posted by ArmyRet95:
Just as an addition or side note, Biofuels can include other biomass, you do not have to use food crops. Some things such as Saw grass and Algae are perfect examples of biomass that could change the way the US drives and produces fuel. Instead of killing the bill, they just need to change it to remove food crops from the legislation and ensure it includes other types of biomass. This legislation is not a bad idea, just incomplete and poorly thought out. All we really had to do to get a leg up, was to check with the Europeans and read their report of their problems with the 2003 European legislation on Biofuels and we could have and still can skip half the problems. It is time for Biofuels, Biodiesel and Ethanol in the US, now before it really is too late.

Ethanol is very bad and a great money waster!
Biobutanol is the way to go, better all the way around...
Respectfully, SUNLINER81

quote:

Originally posted by SUNLINER81:

quote:

Originally posted by 6837602:

quote:

Originally posted by jdksfcret:
My son, who will graduate this month with a degree in agricultural from West Virgina University; is part of a study of abandoned surface mines for there suitability for growing switchgrass for ethanol production.

DEP partners with WVU to study switchgrass on former surface mines

biofuel - switch grass

We should all be optimistic that we can use other means for weaning our country off of oil.

As the 8 years of the American disgrace comes to an end and we reid our selves of this corrupt regime in Washington you will see a rapid and irreversible switch to switch grass based fuel.



Corn will go back to the food supply and we will be driving clean fuel efficient cars.



The switch grass based fuels will be produced by American farmers and the profits derived will be spent in the US.

This spans more than just one party and one administration. It is multi generational, it is the old, "let the next generation settle the problem, we are o.k. for now"...
Respectfully, SUNLINER81

quote:

Originally posted by 6837602:

quote:

Originally posted by SUNLINER81:

quote:

Originally posted by 6837602:

quote:

Originally posted by jdksfcret:
My son, who will graduate this month with a degree in agricultural from West Virgina University; is part of a study of abandoned surface mines for there suitability for growing switchgrass for ethanol production.

DEP partners with WVU to study switch