HAVE A GREAT THURSDAY READERS!

For all you LSU baseball fans, the Tigers are now ranked #1 in one poll and 4th in the two other polls. They lead the SEC West and are tied with Kentucky, who leads the East division with the same Conference record as LSU. And, the HUGE weekend for LSU starts this Friday, when they play Kentucky in Lexington on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If the Tigers can win 2 of the 3 games, they should solidify their ranking. They are "on fire" at the mid point in the SEC season. If they can continue to play like they are playing now, they should have a good shot at getting back to Omaha!

Back to ethanol issues. Here's an interesting article I picked up recently on a company that wants to make ethanol from garbage...........yes, from trash. I wish them well as this could take some pressure off corn prices if it is successful and catches on.

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Powers Energy garbage-to-ethanol plant takes a few steps forward

By Carrie Napoleon Post-Tribune correspondent March 29, 2012 4:06PM

LOWELL — Plans for the proposed $330 million Powers Energy trash-to-ethanol plant in Schneider appear to be gaining some momentum.

Powers Energy and the landowner are expected to reach a deal on a purchase agreement in about a week. Powers is also in negotiations with a major oil company that has an interest in purchasing all the ethanol produced at the site, as well as becoming an equity partner in the project, a project representative said.

Members of the Council of Northwestern Indiana Towns and Smaller Cities were updated on progress with the project Thursday at the Lowell Town Hall during their regular meeting. Schneider Town Council President Richard Ludlow and Ed Cleveland, a representative from the local construction conglomerate partner in the project, provided details on the latest activities surrounding the trash-to-ethanol plant first proposed in 2008.

“We are very excited about the fact that a major oil company wants to buy the ethanol and wants to be an equity partner,” Cleveland said.

Equity had been an issue with funding in the past. Two prior attempts to establish funding fell through in part because the building was to be owned by the Lake County Solid Waste Management District and outside factors on the economy including the economic troubles in Greece in Italy and the tsunami in Japan.

Since then a new contract has been established giving ownership of the facility to Powers, which allows the company to use it as equity in funding attempts. That has helped to move a third funding attempt forward.

That new contract means Powers will need to obtain new commitments from municipalities that want to take advantage of the $17.50 a ton tipping rate when the plant comes online.

Cleveland said the company is also in the process of responding to a breach of contract suit by the Lake County Solid Waste Management District. Powers has until April 2 to respond to the filing and Cleveland said project organizers are hopeful they will be granted an extension.

Ludlow said the Schneider Town Council is taking the necessary steps to keep the project moving forward short of agreeing to any type of tax abatement. Ludlow said Powers has not sought any tax abatements and will be taxed at full rate on the project.

He said the Schneider Town Council Monday approved the rezoning of the land where the project is expected to be built from agricultural to industrial. Town officials also signed the tipping commitment letter and forwarded that to Powers. About half of the Lake County communities have resubmitted the commitment letters, he said.

"Pete" Landry...........comments welcome at...............way2gopete@yahoo.com

HAVE A GREAT FRIDAY READERS!

The chemical manufacturing industry has been manufacturing ethanol from other than corn fermentation for many years. Yet, there are laws on the books that prevent them for manufacturing ethanol as an additive for ethanol gasoline.........how stupid! Guess they're afraid that would run the ethanol manufacturing plants in the midwest out of business? Use of ethanol manufactured by the chemical industry as a fuel additive could go a long way in reducing the high price of corn, and also all food products made from corn.....ie, bread, cereal, all meat products that use corn as a feedstock, etc. Read this article for more:

How A Dumb Law Blocks A Great Way To Fuel America

Christopher Helman - Forbes

4/03/2012 @ 3:38PM |24,863 views

This year American motorists will burn through 14 billion gallons of ethanol, the end product of 5 billion bushels of corn—a third of the U.S. crop—grown on 33 million acres of farmland. It arguably cuts pollution coming out of U.S. tailpipes, but at a huge cost. Since 2005, when Congress required that ethanol be added to your gas tank, U.S. corn prices have tripled.

(Read the entire article here:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2012/04/03/ethanol-minus-the-corn-it-could-fuel-america-if-it-werent-illegal/)

"Pete" Landry...........comments welcome .........at.............way2gopete@yahoo.com

HAPPY EASTER READERS!

Wishing you and yours a very HAPPY AND PEACEFUL EASTER!

Just when we think things couldn't possibly get any worse with ethanol gasoline, the ethanol gas lovers are already talking about pushing to go from E-15 (not yet in stations) to E-20!

Read this article:

Gasoline could go from 10% ethanol up to 20%

Updated 3/5/2008 11:13 AM

By James R. Healey, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Key backers of ethanol fuel are starting a push to double the amount of ethanol commonly blended with gasoline to 20%. The move would boost the market for grain alcohol, while skirting problems and controversy surrounding E85, an 85% ethanol fuel.

Blending ethanol — alcohol typically now made from corn — into gasoline is a way to cut petroleum use. A 10% ethanol blend, called E10, now is standard at many gasoline pumps across the USA. It can be used by virtually all gasoline vehicles, which is not true of the E85 being promoted as a fuel of the future.

(Read full article here: http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/environment/2008-03-04-e20-ethanol-fuel_N.htm)

Studies by the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State University at Mankato suggest that ordinary vehicles could burn a mix of 20% ethanol, called E20, as routinely and harmlessly as they now burn E10. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is to announce the study results at a conference here today.

"We see E20 not exactly as bypassing E85, but supplementing it," says Gene Hugoson, Minnesota agriculture commissioner.

A separate study, commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association and not yet finished, will assess the environmental impact of doubling the alcohol.

Minnesota law requires 20% of fuel used be ethanol within a few years, making the matter more urgent there than elsewhere. The mandate could be satisfied if enough motorists burn E85 to raise the average to 20% — or if E20 replaces E10 as the state's standard fuel.

Hitting the state's goal, as well as boosting U.S. ethanol use as much as the industry hopes, "will take awhile" relying on E85, Hugoson says. E85 availability remains limited mainly to the Midwest. It is potentially corrosive, making it hard to ship in pipelines and requiring special fuel system parts in vehicles. E85 also has far less energy than gasoline, so it takes more to go the same distance.

For E20 to become a legal fuel, however, it would need U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval.

Automakers also have doubts that it is as benign as E10. They are running trials, but they say they do not have enough data on how risky E20 is to components and whether it would change emissions in unwanted ways.

"Our vehicles are able to handle E10, but to move to E20 there are technical issues. It's not that simple," says Ford Motor (F) spokeswoman Kristen Kinley.

General Motors (GM) spokesman Alan Adler says that in E20 tests in Australia, "40% of the vehicles sustained (catalytic converter) damage, which allowed essentially unchecked tailpipe emissions."

"We believe there's not data sufficient to prove that all vehicles will function OK with E20," says Reg Modlin, director of environmental affairs for Chrysler. "It's not a legal fuel, and it would void the warranty."

"Pete" Landry..........comments welcome at .............way2gopete@yahoo.com

HAVE A GREAT WEDNESDAY READERS!

EPA continues to push it's 15% ethanol gas or "E15" agenda. It announced yesterday that is is now accepting registration applications from companies who choose to sell E15. This is despite several lawsuits from the Automobile Manufacturers Associations (domestic and foreign), the small engine power association and the Marine Manufacturers Association.

What all consumers should know, and probably DON'T know, is that despite the EPA's 15% ethanol gasoline approval announcement in January, 2011, claiming it was safe to use in all 2001 and newer passenger cars and light trucks, nearly ALL owners manuals for 2001 and newer vehicles warn owners "not to use gasoline with greater than 10% ethanol, or engine damage could occur and the vehicles warranty will be voided". Did you bother to check your owners manual? I have a 2008 Mercury Sable and a 2009 Ford F-150. They both warn against using gas with greater than 10% ethanol.

Even retailers are now balking at selling E15. Read the article titled "Retailers want liability protection before considering E15" on my website's "Current Ethanol News" page. The biggest fear with 15% is the "misfueling" issue, that is, putting this gas into equipment it is NOT designed for, causing damage to the engine. Since the price of E15 will likely be about 10 cents/gallon cheaper than 10% ethanol gas, it will be tempting to consumers to use in lawnmowers and small garden tools, marine engines and older vehicles. The results could be catastrophic and be very costly. This is what I tried to warn the Louisiana Legislators in 2009 and 2010 when I testified before the Agriculture Committee in 2009 and the Commerce Committee in 2010. They didn't seem interested......typical politicians. I may again try to convince them to pass a law to cap ethanol gas in Louisiana at 10%. At least one other State has such a law currently.

Here's the EPA announcement on registering to sell E15:

EPA Approves First Applications for Registration of Ethanol to Make E15

EPA to Allow 15 Percent Renewable Fuel in Gasoline**

Agency approves first applications for registration of ethanol to make E15

WASHINGTON-–April 2, 2012: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the first applications for registration of ethanol for use in making gasoline that contains up to 15 percent ethanol -- known as E15. Ethanol is a renewable fuel that can be mixed with gasoline. For over 30 years ethanol has been blended into gasoline, but the law limited it to 10 percent by volume for use in gasoline-fueled vehicles. Registration of ethanol to make E15 is a significant step toward its production, sale, and use in model year 2001 and newer gasoline-fueled cars and light trucks.

To enable widespread use of E15, the Obama Administration has set a goal to help fueling station owners install 10,000 blender pumps over the next 5 years. In addition, both through the Recovery Act and the 2008 Farm Bill, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Department of Agriculture have provided grants, loans and loan guarantees to spur American ingenuity on the next generation of biofuels.

Today's action follows an extensive technical review required by law. Registration is a prerequisite to introducing E15 into the marketplace. Before it can be sold, manufactures must first take additional measures to help ensure retail stations and other gasoline distributors understand and implement labeling rules and other E15-related requirements. EPA is not requiring the use or sale of E15.

Ethanol is considered a renewable fuel because it is generally produced from plant products or wastes and not from fossil fuels. Ethanol is blended with gasoline for use in most areas across the country. After extensive vehicle testing by DOE and other organizations, EPA issued two partial waivers raising the allowable ethanol volume to 15 percent for use in model year 2001 and newer cars and light trucks.

E15 is not permitted for use in motor vehicles built prior to 2001 model year and in off-road vehicles and equipment such as boats and lawn and garden equipment. Gas pumps dispensing E15 will be clearly labeled so consumers can make the right choice.

"Pete" Landry.........comments welcome at .............way2gopete@yahoo.com