Algae bio-fuel makes sense..

[ppine]

Some good posts here.  One of the functions of government is to help pay for the research and development of alternatives to current technologies.  As a retired environmental consultant I worked on oil shale and tar sands projects in the 1970s.  Now we are benefitting from oil in no Alberta from tar sands.

The answer to energy independence will always include several diiferent forms of fuel.  Algae is very promising especially for diesels.  I am a big fan and get 24 mpg from a Ford F-350.  We have a local alt fuel station.  E-85 is 50 cents cheaper than reg gas, and biodiesel is about 20 cents less than dino diesel.  The gaps are likely to widen in the furture.

[ironglow]

Some good posts here.  One of the functions of government is to help pay for the research and development of alternatives to current technologies.  As a retired environmental consultant I worked on oil shale and tar sands projects in the 1970s.  Now we are benefitting from oil in no Alberta from tar sands.

The answer to energy independence will always include several diiferent forms of fuel.  Algae is very promising especially for diesels.  I am a big fan and get 24 mpg from a Ford F-350.  We have a local alt fuel station.  E-85 is 50 cents cheaper than reg gas, and biodiesel is about 20 cents less than dino diesel.  The gaps are likely to widen in the furture.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
 
  Unfortunately, E-85 is all we are allowed to buy in the 'People's Republik of New York'.. but when driving in areas where I can get REAL gasoline, I find... and some researchers have pointed out that one can get up to a 20% reduction in mileage with E-85.     So where's the saving?
  Then there's the damage E-85 can do to all gasoline engines..especially small, air cooled ones.

[mechanic]

Unfortunately, the ethanol is heavily subsidized, so we pay more for it than the pump registers anyway.  Georgia has an ethanol plant that is supposed to make the alchohol from trash wood, etc.   As a result, all our gas has ethanol added.  I've been unable  to determine just how much they are subsidized.
 
 
Ben

[scootrd]

I try never to run E-85 in my oldr 1950's/60's garden tractors , chain saws, snowblower,  etc. .  ethanol retains moisture. In a pinch , If I absolutely must , I either only fill what I need and run it dry for the one application or task use (never ever let it sit for long periods of time) or I add a marine stabilizer but use up the tank within a week.  I have been burned too too many times with my small engines. I had an old Kohler engine on 1960's garden tractor the carb needle corroded , Took a whole weekend to repair as finding old kohler carb Parts are becoming more of a challenge.

I'm lucky as we have ethanol free gas close by where I live.

The Briggs and Stratton web  site specifically states do not use fuel with more than 10% ethanol on their 2 and 4 stroke machines or it will void the warranty.

here is the exact wording -  CAUTION: Do not use unapproved gasoline such as E85*. Do not modify engine to run on alternate fuels. This will damage the engine components and void the engine warranty.

[mcbammer]

Im   all   for   technology   &   research   in   alternative   fuels  .  If   we   ever   find   one  economical   &  plentiful ,  in   walk   in   the   speculators   and   kill   the   golden  goose .

[Dixie Dude]

Speculators are not the reason for oil price increases or natural gas.  Yes it has some ebb and flow.  But, speculators buy and sell based on what the government does and the political problems around the world.  For instance, IF Obama opened up drilling on shore, off shore, in Alaska, and build the pipelines needed.  Speculators would lower the cost of oil, thus the cost of gas at the pump.  Also, Opec will probably lower their prices to keep them lower than what it costs us to drill and produce.  Being in the natural gas industry, we could get $2-$2.50 for gas by doing this.  Obama said he wanted gas to be over $5 so that it would force us to use "green" energy.  He doesn't care how high it goes, nor who it hurts, so long as his socialist aganda is implemented. 

[scootrd]

Speculators like hedge fund managers and investment bankers account for 60% of trading on the oil futures market; only 40% of the trades are for legitimate business hedging. It is estimated that such speculation has driven up the price of oil to account for as much as  $1 increase/gallon in the cost of gasoline.

Forbes magazine reported in Feb 2012 oil speculators add 56 cents to the cost of a gallon of gas at the pump. It also puts a strain on the economy as rising oil prices reduce our gross domestic product.

In March 2012 it was estimated oil speculators now control 80 percent of the energy futures market up from recent 60% estimate.

In May, 2011, the CFTC charged Parnon Energy and two traders with manipulating oil prices using a $50 million scheme.

[BUGEYE]

Hasn't STP put out a product to counteract the negative effects of ethanol??
If they haven't, they should....

[scootrd]

Hasn't STP put out a product to counteract the negative effects of ethanol??
If they haven't, they should....

I have had some luck with SEA Foam. It help with getting rid of moisture

[SHOOTALL]

Sta-Bil marine works well , it is gray in color then they have some clear blue/green color stuff out also both work well.