HAPPY FRIDAY READERS!

Another question I am asked from time to time is "where can I find an ethanol test kit". I've updated an article I wrote back in 2009 to include another supplier I recently learned about.

I know there are certainly probably more ethanol test kits on the market than the ones I list in this article. These can be a starting point to determine which one works for your situation and how much you are willing to pay for a test kit.

These are several sites and companies I’ve found which sell kits to test for ethanol in gasoline. I’m sure there may be more. I personally own the test kit sold by “Fuel-Testers” and have used it frequently. It is simple to use and produces easily viewed test results. It is easily cleaned and can be used over and over. The kit contains a “Quik-Check solution” which gives you a quick “spot test” by adding a single drop of the check solution to the fuel. If the color turns bright blue, ethanol is present. Instructions are included with the kit. There are other test kits that work very well also. I suggest you view the websites and make your own mind as which test kit best suits your needs and costs.

All ethanol fuel test kits are based on the premise that the ethanol in the gasoline will migrate to the water in the test kit tube. The tubes are calibrated and require that a certain amount of clean water be added first, then the prescribed amount of the gasoline to be tested. Then the tube is capped, shaken several times, and then allowed to settle (2-5 minutes usually). After the water/gasoline layers phase separate, the increase in volume of the lower water layer, if any, will be an indication of the amount of ethanol in the fuel tested. Most test kit tubes are calibrated to give you the results in percentage of ethanol present, if any. The test kit should be cleaned after use and stored for the next use.

CAUTION: As you are aware, gasoline is very flammable, so handle accordingly. Use care to avoid any open flame and avoid static electrical charge situations that could create a spark.

Ethanol fuel test kits:

Company: Outboard Wizard Marine Shop (678) 935-1998)

Link: http://www.theoutboardwizard.bizhosting.com/alcohol_fuel_test_kit.html

Cost: $24.95 + ? $ S+H

================================================

Company: Fuel-Testers (678) 935-1998

Link: http://www.fueltestkit.com/

Cost: $ 24.95 + $7 S&H

================================================

Company: Etha-Test

Link: http://www.bidlist.org/Etha-Test/

Cost: $8.95 + S&H

===========================================

Company: EAA (920-426-4843)

Link: http://www.eaa.org/autofuel/autogas/test_kit.asp

Cost: $ 25.00 + $5 S&H

=================================================

Company: Ebay Motors

Link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270606859688&crlp=1_263602_263622&ff4=263602_263622&viewitem=&guid=924e0d2b1260a0e201903730fe7d9a25&rvr_id=133367129600&ua=WXS%3F&itemid=270606859688

Cost: $ 8.95 + $2 S&H

=================================================

Ethanol Fuel Testing

Determining ethanol content in blended gasoline fuels

by James W. Hebert (credit given to Mr. Hebert)

This article presents a simple and inexpensive test procedure for determining the alcohol and water content of blended gasoline fuels.

Blended Gasoline

More and more gasolines sold for automotive and marine use are blended fuels consisting of gasoline and ethanol in a solution. In most cases the ethanol content of the fuel is less than ten-percent. In some states there is no labeling requirement, so consumers have no way to determine if the fuel they are purchasing contains any ethanol at all. Generally, in all states fuels which contain greater than ten-percent ethanol have to be labeled at the retailer's pump. Because many boaters use older engines which were not designed to run on blended fuels, they may wish to avoid any gasoline blends with ethanol.

How much water a fuel can hold in solution before phase separaton occurs depends on its blend. Gasoline blended with ethanol can hold more water in solution than pure gasoline. Gasohol, or E10, or gasoline and ethanol in a 9:1 blend, can hold about 0.5-percent water in solution. Any more water content and the water will separate. This principle forms the basis for a simple test procedure.

Test Procedure

A simple test can determine the ethanol or water content of a fuel sample. All that is needed is a sample of the fuel, some water, and a test tube or graduated cylinder. The procedure is as follows:

• Obtain a sample of the fuel to be tested
• Fill a test tube or graduated cylinder with water in a volume of 25-percent of the total volume
• Fill the remaining 75-percent volume of the test tube or cylinder with the sample fuel
• Install a rubber stopper and shake the test tube or cylinder to thoroughly mix the test sample with the water.
• Place the test tube or cylinder in an upright and stable position, and allow the solution to separate into two phases.
• If the test sample of fuel contained any water or alcohol, it will have come out of solution with the gasoline and into solution with the water. Observe the position of the phase boundary and deduce the change in volume according to the formula below, or

If using a calibrated cylinder, read the alcohol content of the original sample from the graduations on the cylinder

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

HAPPY THURSDAY READERS!

I hope some of our Mississippi readers were able to tune into the Paul Gallo radio talk show Wednesday morning on "SuperTalk Mississippi" radio. I participated for about 25 minutes from about 8:15 to 8:45 am answering Paul's questions and also call in questions from listeners. I do hope it turned to be informative for listeners. The "SuperTalk" website is: www.supertalk.fm

I continue to get asked why is ethanol gas being sold and what determines how much ethanol gas must be sold. I originally developed the following article in 2009 and updated it a few days ago. I do hope this answers the questions.

Why is ethanol gasoline being sold?
By "Pete" Landry December 21, 2009 (Updated 9/20/11)
The Federal Environmental Protection Agency Regulation (EPA-40CFRPart80) titled “Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Renewable Fuel Standard Program” of 2005 mandates the use of “renewal fuels” in motor fuels. The following is a brief summary taken directly from the regulation: “SUMMARY: Under the Clean Air Act, as amended by Section 1501 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency is required to promulgate regulations implementing a renewable fuel program. The statute specifies the total volume of renewable fuel that the regulations must ensure is used in gasoline sold in the U.S. each year, with the total volume increasing over time. In this context, this program is expected to reduce dependence on foreign sources of petroleum, increase domestic sources of energy and help transition to alternatives to petroleum in the transportation sector. The increased use of renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel is also expected to have the added effect of providing an expanded market for agricultural products such as corn and soybeans. Based on our analysis, we believe that the expanded use of renewable fuels will provide reductions in carbon dioxide emissions that have been implicated in climate change. Also, there will be some reductions in air toxics emissions such as benzene from the transportation sector, while some other emissions such as oxides of nitrogen are expected to increase. This action finalizes regulations designed to ensure that refiners, blenders and importers of gasoline will use enough renewable fuel each year so that the total volume requirements of the Energy Policy Act are met. Our rule describes the standard that will apply to these parties and the renewable fuels that qualify for compliance. The regulations also establish a trading program that will be an integral aspect of the overall program, allowing renewable fuels to be used where they are most economical while providing a flexible means for obligated parties to comply with the standard. DATES: This final rule is effective on Sept. 1, 2007. The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of Sept. 1, 2007. Through today's final rule, we are putting in place a compliance and enforcement program that implements the renewable fuel program, also known as the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. This program accomplishes the statutory goal of increasing the volume of renewable fuels that are required to be used in vehicles in the U.S. as required in Section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) enacted as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (the Energy Act or the Act). This final rule resulted from a collaborative effort with stakeholders, including refiners, renewable fuel producers and distributors, who together helped to design a program that is simple, flexible, and enforceable.” Each year, the EPA publishes the required percentage of ethanol/renewal fuel additives refiners must use the following year. For 2009, refiners are required to sell 10.21 percent of their total fuels sold as “renewal fuel” (in our area the additive is ethanol). This percentage is intended to increase yearly. The link to the 2009 requirements is http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/2008/November/Day-21/a27613.htm

In 2011, the EPA’s RFS standard requires refineries to sell 8.01% of their total fuels sold as “renewal fuels”.

Here is the link for the 2011 requirements: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/420f10056.htm#3

total of 14 billion gallons of ethanol must be sold in 2011 per the EPA’s 2011 mandate. Based on the US consumption of gasoline at 140 billion gallons in 2010. The EPA’s mandate peaks out in 2022, when a total of 36 billion gallons of ethanol must be sold. Based on the 140 billion gallons of gasoline consumed, that equates to a total of 26% of total gasoline sales which must be “renewal fuels” in 2022. Since there is very little “bio diesel”, the vast majority of the renewal fuel mandate is met as ethanol blend.

"Pete" Landry Comments welcome: way2gopete@yahoo.com

HAPPY WEDNESDAY READERS!

For readers in Mississippi, I will be on the "SuperTalk Mississippi" radio talk show with host Paul Gallo at 8:00 am Wednesday morning. I was invited to join the talk show to discuss my website and the issues revolving around the recently approved 15% ethanol gas. So, tune in if you are in one of the many Mississippi cities that carry the show (www.supertalk.fm to find the station nearest your location).

Then next Wednesday, September 28th, I've been invited to give a presentation on ethanol gasoline issues to the Eunice, Louisiana Rotary Club. Eunice is in St. Landry Parish and is about 45 minutes northwest of Lafayette. Then, on Monday, October 3rd, I was invited to give the same presentation to the Bay Springs, Mississippi (northwest of Hattiesburg) Rotary Club.

If you are aware of an organization that would like to hear this presentation, have them contact me at way2gopete@yahoo.com. The presentation is about 25-30 minutes in length. It covers the history of ethanol gasoline, federal regulations governing this fuel, impact on marine and other engines, and the issues surrounding the recently approved 15% ethanol gas which will likely start showing up in stations early next year, or sooner. I only request that they cover my fuel/mileage expenses, meals and hotel stay if required and a very modest donation to my website operation.

Here is another article showing how livestock producers are hurting from the high price of corn driven up "sky high" by ethanol fuels I thought you might enjoy reading:

Livestock producers face ethanol makers over cost of corn

By Philip Brasher, Gannett Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON --

The flooding and record heat that have combined to shrink this year's corn crop are feeding new calls from livestock producers to weaken the government's ethanol mandates.

Producers told the House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday that tightening grain supplies are driving up feed costs further and threatening to push many poultry farms and others out of business.

"We have serious, immediate concerns about the availability and cost of feed ingredients caused by the mandated use of corn-based ethanol," said Ted Seger, president of Farbest Foods Inc., a turkey producer in Indiana.

STORY: Car buffs don't like ethanol

More than 20 percent of the chicken industry, as measured by production, has been sold to foreign-owned companies because of bankruptcies in the U.S. industry over the last three years, he said.

The Agriculture Department this week estimated that farmers will harvest 12.5 billion bushels of corn this year, the third-largest crop on record, but that was 3 percent less than the USDA had forecast a month earlier.

With corn supplies tightening, the USDA also estimated usage for feed would be reduced. About 4.7 billion bushels of this year's crop is expected to be used for livestock feed, down from 5 billion bushels for the 2010 harvest.

The price of corn is the major cost of raising livestock, and producers have been trimming herds and flocks as a result of price increases, boosting retail meat prices.

Steve Meyer, an Iowa economist who advises the livestock industry, warned that a bigger crunch could come if there is a widespread drought and crop failure. A 12-percent drop in corn production, roughly half as large as what happened during a drought in the 1980s, would cut the harvest under 12 billion bushels, said Meyer, who testified on behalf of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

"We're living on borrowed time from a sometimes-fickle Mother Nature," he said.

He said Congress should provide for an automatic waiver of the annual ethanol mandates in case of a crop failure.

The ethanol industry argues that the mandates are needed to assure investors that there will be a market for the biofuel and that market speculation has a played a major role in driving up the price of corn.

Waiving the ethanol mandates "would lead to inconsistent regulation and sends a bad message to the investment community and producers seeking financing for first-of-its-kind technology," said Rob Skjonsberg, vice president of public policy and corporate affairs for Poet LLC, a leading ethanol producer based in Sioux Falls.

The ethanol industry also argues that livestock producers benefited from buying grain that was kept artificially cheap because of federal crop subsidies that encouraged excess corn production. Federal ethanol policies resulted from corn growers' attempts to find a new market for their crop, said Rep. Steve King, R-Ia. "When things are bad, when things are hard, you start to generate new ideas to try to solve that situation. Ethanol was one of those," King said.

About one-third of the corn that is sold for ethanol production winds up as a byproduct known as distillers grains that can substitute for corn in livestock feed, but poultry and hog producers say they can use the product only in small amounts.

The government promotes the production of corn-based ethanol in three ways -- the usage mandates as well as a tariff on imported ethanol ($0.54/gallon) and a 45-cent-per-gallon subsidy to refiners who blend the biofuel with gasoline. The subsidy and tariff are scheduled to expire at the end of the year, but the mandates would continue, growing to 15 billion gallons a year by 2015 before leveling off.

"Pete" Landry Comments welcome: way2gopete@yahoo.com

HAPPY (SAD?) TUESDAY READERS!

For readers in Bossier Parish, bad news to report. I received an e-mail from Forrest over the weekend that indicates the following five stores in Bossier have switched to ethanol because their supplier could no longer get ethanol free gas:

- Dixie Mart at 6700 LA Hwy 3 in Benton

- Twin Cities Car Wash & Lube at 2805 E Texas Street in Bossier City

- Triple JJJ at 1600 Benton Road in Bossier City

- Go To Store - Valero at 3820 Industrial Drive in Bossier City

- River Bend Marina at 500 JT White Road in Elm Grove

This means there are ONLY 12 stations left in Bossier Parish that sell ethanol free gas as of today. Not good............

Also, for readers in Grant Parish, two stores on LA Hwy 167 have had to shutdown due to widening of Hwy 167 according to an e-mail report from Robert:

- Hydes One Stop at 403 LA Hwy 167 S in Dry Prong

- Sonshine Grocery at 802 LA Hwy 167 in Dry Prong

That's now a total of 70 stations I've had to take off the "Ethanol Free Gas Station" list since Marathon Oil stopped selling ethanol free gas from their Garyville Refinery on June 21st.

Thought the following article would be of interest as it pits the livestock farmers against the ethanol industry........this ethanol subsidy issue is going to get uglier yet?

Manhattan Moment: Pork barrel ethanol subsidies have doubled corn prices

By: Robert Bryce | 08/10/11 8:05 PM
OpEd Contributor

Last month, with Washington mired in the debt ceiling battle and facing a potential default, public disapproval of Congress reached a record 82 percent.

That figure might have been a little lower had Congress succeeded in solving another long-festering issue: putting an end to the massive subsidies being given to the corn ethanol scam. Alas, it was not to be.

In early July, it appeared that a bipartisan group of senators had come up with a plan to end the 45-cents-per-gallon subsidy almost immediately rather than wait for it to expire, as planned, on Dec. 31.

But that deal never passed both houses of Congress. The result: $6 billion in annual subsidies are still being given to an industry that is helping drive up food prices during the worst recession in modern history.

So the ethanol industry will continue getting subsidies while gobbling up gargantuan quantities of corn, which, in turn, is increasing the cost of food at the grocery store at the very same time that huge numbers of Americans are unemployed and/or collecting food stamps.

The official U.S. unemployment rate stands at 9.1 percent, but the actual rate of underemployment (known as the SGS rate) may be closer to 23 percent.

Furthermore, 45.7 million Americans -- about 14.6 percent of the population -- now rely on federal food stamps. Since October 2008, the number of Americans relying on food stamps has jumped by 48 percent (that's 14.9 million people) and enrollment in the program has increased for 32 consecutive months.

And yet -- and yet -- Congress just couldn't find time to cut ethanol subsidies, even though at least 17 studies, including those by Purdue University, the World Bank, and the Congressional Research Service, have exposed the link between increasing ethanol production and higher food prices.

Authored by three agricultural economists from Purdue University, the report says that "there is little doubt that biofuels play a role in the corn price level and variability, and this has spilled over into other commodity markets."

The most recent study came out in mid-July, during the height of the debt ceiling battle. Funded by the Farm Foundation, a centrist nonprofit group based in Illinois, the report, "What's Driving Food Prices in 2011?" concluded that America's corn ethanol mandates have created a "large, persistent and non-price responsive demand for corn."

Today, about 40 percent of all U.S. corn -- that's 15 percent of global corn production or 5 percent of all global grain -- is diverted into the corn ethanol scam in order to produce the energy equivalent of about 0.6 percent of global oil needs.

Corn prices, now close to $7 per bushel, have more than doubled over the past two years. And recent harsh weather, including floods in the Midwest and drought in the South, will likely mean a subpar U.S. corn harvest.

That, in turn, will mean yet higher prices for corn, which will translate into higher prices for meat, milk, eggs, cheese and other commodities.

"Livestock producers, restaurants, food manufacturers and consumers at the grocery store are all being penalized by this profligate biofuel policy," said Bill Lapp, president of Advanced Economic Solutions, an Omaha, Neb., commodity consulting firm.

"We are already at about $7 for corn. It's an absurd number for livestock producers to pay. But we may soon see prices in excess of $8," he said.

In January, Peter Brabeck, chairman of the world's biggest food company, Nestle, declared that using food to make biofuels is "absolute madness."

Congress, are you listening?

Robert Bryce, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, is the author, most recently, of "Power Hungry: The Myths of 'Green' Energy and the Real Fuels of the Future."

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/2011/08/manhattan-moment-pork-barrel-ethanol-subsidies-have-doubled-corn-prices?quicktabs_1=0#ixzz1YMtwyIwI

HAPPY MONDAY READERS!

What a great win for the Saints on Sunday! QB Brees was "on the money" and the defense looked sooooo much better than the game against Green Bay.

If you were not aware that the US Senate voted overwhelmingly, but a vote of 73 - 27 to let the $0.45/gallon refinery tax credit and the $0.54/gallon tariff on imported ethanol expire on December 31st of this year. The House is set to vote on it soon also, and it believed that it will kill the subsidy also. If you had not seen the announcement on this, I thought you might be interested in reading the following article:

Senate votes overwhelmingly to end ethanol subsidies

BY BILL LAMBRECHT • blambrecht@post-dispatch.com > 202-298-6880 | Posted: Thursday, June 16, 2011 2:40 pm

WASHINGTON • In the end, the defeat of ethanol subsidies in place since the 1970s was swift, forceful and bipartisan.

The Senate voted 73-27 this afternoon to end tax credits for ethanol that amount to about $6 billion annually. The vote to kill featured 33 Republicans, 38 Democrats and the Senate's two independents. Saving the subsidies drew little support outside the Midwest. Missouri has 6 operating ethanol plants; Illinois has 13 with another in the planning stages.

"The best way for ethanol to survive is to stand on its own two feet," argued Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who sponsored the Senate amendment along with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

The vote eliminates the 45-cent per gallon tax credit for ethanol refiners along with the 54-cent per gallon tariff on imported alcohol fuel that was designed to keep out Brazilian sugarcane ethanol.

But ethanol supporters beat back a separate effort that would have prohibited taxpayer financing of new blender pumps -- additional pumps at filling stations offering different blends of ethanol fuels. It fell 19 votes short.

The National Corn Growers Association, which is based in Chesterfield, fought along with other farm groups and the ethanol industry to preserve the tax credit, which was due to expire at year's end.

"The oil companies have never given up their assault on ethanol and biofuels," asserted Sen. Tom Harkin, a Democrat from Iowa -- the nation's leading producer of corn and ethanol.

Senators from Missouri and Illinois voted along with their Midwestern colleagues against canceling the tax credit. They are promoting legislation aimed at shifting to a different tax incentive for ethanol that would be tied to the price of oil.

The subsidy has been around since the Energy Tax Act of 1978 gave ethanol a 40-cents per gallon tax exemption, increased to a high of 54-cents per gallon over the years.

The Renewable Fuels Association, which represents ethanol producers, said afterward that they were "disappointed in the shortsightedness of this vote, particularly as this same body voted less than one month ago to preserve billions of dollars in taxpayer handouts to the oil industry."

The Corn Growers put out a statement saying that the organization was severely disappointed that "politics trumped policy." But the St. Louis group's president Bart Schott, said he was pleased at defeat of the amendment that would have prevented the Agriculture Department from handing out grants for blender pumps.

Schott said that "blender pumps provide options for those with flex-fuel vehicles and can help the ethanol industry grow in the years to come."

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/article_120513fe-984d-11e0-8022-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1YMvh4qyg

HAPPY SATURDAY READERS!

Wishing everyone a great weekend and hope you enjoy the football games with your favorite teams.

For readers from the Shreveport area, I am sad to report that Al Carrolls Service Center at 1343 Captain Shreve Drive in Shreveport has converted to ethanol gas because he said their distributor could no longer get ethanol free gas. Since Marathon Oil has stopped selling ethanol free gas from their Garyville refinery June 21, I've had to remove 68 ethanol free stations from my website's list of ethanol free gas stations, most in north Louisiana. If a store has 3 tanks in the ground (which most older stores do), the cost to clean their tanks and dispose of the hazardous waste sludge, install electronic water monitoring equipment and expensive fuel filters on each pump to accomodate ethanol gas costs stations about $6,000 minimum. Multiply that by 68 stations, Marathon has inflicted over $400,000 in costs to all these small "Mom and Pop" stores that are struggling to survive! And why? For the $0.45/gallon tax credit most likely. They only had to blend 8% of their total gasoline sales this year, that's a mere 8 gallons out of every 100 gallons to meet the EPA regulation. It's just amazing what greed does, isn't it? And, the other major refiners are no better. It's just that Marathon was the last remaining large supplier of ethanol free gas to south and north Louisiana.

I am often asked by readers, what should I do to minimize the risk of problems to my marine engine if I cannot find ethanol free gas and must use ethanol gas. I developed the following article in 2009 to answer that question. I do hope it helps.......but, keep in mind, these precautions DO NOT eliminate the liklehood of engine damage, but only merely lowers the risk somewhat.

SUGGESTED PRECAUTIONS IF E-10 GAS MUST BE USED IN MARINE ENGINES

By "Pete" Landry

(December 17, 2009)

It is suggested that the following precautions be taken if you cannot find a source of ethanol-free gas and must use E-10 gasoline (DO NOT, under any circumstance use 15% ethanol gasoline in your marine engine when this new gas starts showing up at stations! It WILL DAMAGE your engine and void your warranty, and, according to the new EPA "E-15" label, is "against Federal law" to use this gas in marine engines) :

First, if you do not already have an in-line fuel filter between your fuel tank and your engine, it is strongly recommended that you install a 10-micron fuel filter with water-trapping capability. It should be installed in your fuel line before your engine, and at a location which is easily accessible for periodic change-out of the filter canister. These filters can be found at most boat dealers and Academy Sports + Outdoors, and other outdoor sports retailers. The filter cartridge (it looks like an auto oil filter) should be changed at least every 50 hours of engine use or at least annually, and perhaps more frequently if engine problems are experienced.

Secondly, it is strongly recommended that a fuel additive be used. I’ve researched at least four different fuel additives, and believe the “Sta-Bil” Marine Formula (blue color) is the better of the options available. This is because it has much higher levels of fuel stabilizer than others, and it also has a corrosion inhibitor that most other additives do not have. The blue Sta-Bil is sold at most Wal-Mart stores and some boat dealers. A 32-ounce bottle sells for about $19. 95 plus tax (2010 prices), but it only takes 1 ounce of additive to 10 gallons of gasoline. So a 32-ounce bottle will provide protection for 320 gallons of gas.

CAUTION: DO NOT use any fuel stabilizer that contains ethanol or any other type of alcohol as this only adds to the problem.

Part of the reason to use of a good fuel additive is not only to reduce the possibility of corrosion to your fuel tank, but also to stabilize the gasoline. Ethanol gasoline has a much shorter “shelf life” than gasoline without ethanol. The stable life of ethanol gasoline is only 2 - 3 months or less.

Lastly, keeping your boat's fuel tank full may reduce the amount of water that is introduced into the tank due to "breathing" since there is very little vapor space left in the tank when it is full. Of course, this has to be weighed against the poorer shelf life of ethanol gasoline if your boat is not used frequently.

Have a GREAT weekend readers! I do not post on Sundays, so I'll be back on Monday.

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

HAPPY FRIDAY READERS!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR LSU TIGERS FOR A GOOD WIN THURSDAY NIGHT! While not a spectacular offensive performance, they got the job done...........and what can you say about the defense! Road game next Saturday against West Virginia, on another national stage on ESPN 2. The boys in purple in gold are now 3 - 0!

For readers in Acadia Parish, sorry to report that the Point Degeglise store in Church Point had to switch to ethanol gas because their supplier could no longer get ethanol free gas.

Also, for readers in Vermillion Parish, also sad to report that the Maxi Mart - Conoco store in Abbeville also had to switch to ethanol gas, again because their distributor claims he could not get ethanol free gas. I spoke to the owner at length, and he is very angry about having to switch.

Here is an article I thought you would also interesting. It seems the fast food industry is also learning that using over half of corn grown in the Country to make ethanol is driving up food prices..........like most consumers were not already aware of this already?

Chain Restaurants Ask Congressional Supercommittee to End Ethanol Tax Credit and Tariff

WASHINGTON, Sep 15, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The National Council of Chain Restaurants and 16 of its member companies today asked Congress' "supercommittee" to repeal a federal tax credit for corn-based ethanol producers and a related tariff on imported ethanol, saying the provisions drive up food prices for consumers and eliminating them could help reduce the deficit.

"Our interest in this issue is due to the high food commodity costs facing all consumers and all channels of the food service industry," NCCR and the companies said in a letter to members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. "Strong empirical evidence shows a direct link between U.S. policy to subsidize and support the corn ethanol industry and increased demand for corn, which is the dominant ingredient in livestock feed in the United States."

NCCR has long argued that the 45-cents-per-gallon Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit and a 54-cents-per-gallon tariff on imported ethanol encourage the use of U.S. corn for ethanol production while discouraging the importation of lower-cost ethanol that would help the United States meet its energy needs without diverting crops needed for food production. The use of corn for ethanol drives up the cost of a wide range of food, from corn itself to meat from corn-fed livestock.

"Chain restaurant companies are food retailers and as such the impacts of the current ethanol subsidies are acutely felt by restaurant operators in the form of higher wholesale and retail food prices," NCCR Executive Director Rob Green said. "The high level of industry participation on this letter is significant and demonstrates the breadth and depth of concern about this issue within the industry."

The letter was directed at the joint committee because the panel has been charged with finding ways to reduce the federal deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years. The tax credit costs the U.S. treasury about $6 billion a year and its repeal would contribute to the panel's goal in addition to being sound public policy.

The tax credit and tariff are scheduled to expire December 31, and the Senate voted in June to eliminate both. But the letter expressed concern that they might yet be renewed, or that supporters would seek to have them replaced with other subsidies.

The letter was signed by Arby's, Brinker International, Burger King, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, CKE Restaurants, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Darden Restaurants, DineEquity, Domino's Pizza, Dunkin' Brands, International Dairy Queen, McDonald's, OSI Restaurant Partners, Wendy's, White Castle and Yum! Brands. In addition to the supercommittee, copies went to all members of the House and Senate.

In addition to today's letter, NCCR is a leading member of a coalition of food industry groups that sent a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee, House Energy and Commerce Committee and Senate Finance Committee earlier this week saying the tax credit should be repealed during the current "time of spiraling deficits." The coalition letter was signed by 104 organizations.

For more than 40 years, NCCR has worked to advance sound public policy that best serves the interests of restaurant businesses and the millions of people they employ. NCCR members include many of the country's most well-respected quick-serve and casual-dining companies. NCCR is a division of the National Retail Federation, the world's largest retail trade group. www.nccr.net

Have a great Friday!

"Pete"....................comments welcome: way2gopete@yahoo.com