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What’s the connection between ethanol, the biofuel produced from corn, and a cherry vanilla ice-cream?

Answer: the first is responsible for pushing up the price of the other.

This month, the price of milk in the United States surged to a near-record in part because of the increasing costs of feeding a dairy herd. The corn feed used to feed cattle has almost doubled in price in a year as demand has grown for the grain to produce ethanol.

Christina Seid, whose family have been making ice-cream at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory for 28 years, said yesterday that she expected to have to raise her prices, along with all competitors in the short term. “We are holding out as long as we can, but prices will rise,” Ms Seid said.

Amy Green’s Ivanna Cone ice-cream emporium in Lincoln, Nebraska, has already raised its prices for a small cone to $3.50 before tax, up from $2.95 a few months ago. She also estimates that she is paying $150 more a week for the butterfat that she uses in her ice-cream.

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Gas prices are spiking again — to an average of $3.22 a gallon, and close to $4 a gallon in many areas.

And some oil executives are now warning that the current shortages of fuel could become a long-term problem, leading to stubbornly higher prices at the pump.

They point to a surprising culprit: uncertainty created by the government’s push to increase the supply of biofuels like ethanol in coming years.

In his State of the Union address in January, President Bush called for a sharp increase in the use of biofuels, along with some improvement in automobile fuel efficiency to reduce America’s use of gasoline by 20 percent within 10 years. Congress is considering legislation calling for a nearly fivefold increase in the use of ethanol.

That has forced many oil companies to reconsider or scale back their plans for constructing new refinery capacity.

In hearings before Congress last year, oil executives outlined plans to increase fuel production by expanding existing refineries. Those plans would add capacity of 1.6 million to 1.8 million barrels a day over the next five years, for an increase of 10 percent, according to the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association.

But those plans have since been scaled back to more than one million barrels a day, according to the Energy Information Administration, an arm of the federal government.

“If the national policy of the country is to push for dramatic increases in the biofuels industry, this is a disincentive for those making investment decisions on expanding capacity in oil products and refining,” said John D. Hofmeister, the president of the Shell Oil Company. “Industrywide, this will have an impact.”

The concerns were echoed in a recent report by Barclays Capital, which said the uncertainty about the ethanol growth “will do little to accelerate desperately needed investment in complex United States refining units.”

“Indeed, it is likely to deter and further delay investment, if not rule out many refinery investments completely.”

Even so, the current cost of gas — which in real terms is approaching the old peak of $1.42 a gallon in March 1981, or $3.31 adjusted for inflation — has renewed suspicions that the oil industry is looking for ways to keep profits high by delaying much-needed investments. Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, began hearings yesterday on the topic “Is Market Concentration in the U.S. Petroleum Industry Harming Consumers?”

And the House voted yesterday by a narrow margin to penalize any oil companies, traders or retailers found to be charging “unconscionably excessive” prices for gasoline and other fuels. President Bush will probably veto the measure because the White House has said such legislation would amount to price controls.

Experts point to many short-term reasons the United States is running low on gasoline, causing prices to rise: many oil companies are doing maintenance work on refineries; new federal rules make fuels cleaner but costlier; and a string of delays, fires and accidents in the industry have reduced supplies just when drivers are starting to hit the road for summer vacations. Many analysts predict prices will keep rising, then soften later in the summer as demand trails off.

Energy executives dismissed any suggestions that they were intentionally keeping gasoline off the market.

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Toyota’s commitment to hybrid automobiles was on full display Thursday when it unveiled its most expensive gasoline-electric vehicle yet—the $124,000 luxury sedan Lexus LS.

Executives at Japan’s No. 1 automaker are fully convinced that hybrid cars are the way of the future. And they’re betting that growing consumer concern about the environment—and higher gas prices—will lure even wealthy buyers to the new model, which went on sale Thursday in Japan for 15 million yen and will arrive later elsewhere.

Executive Vice President Masatami Takimoto denied hybrids were “a transitional technology” that will be replaced by more advanced ecological technology in the future.

“As long as cars exist, the need for hybrid technology will remain,” Takimoto said.

Toyota Motor Corp., which introduced its first hybrid, the Prius, 10 years ago, sold about 300,000 hybrids worldwide last year, and it plans to sell a million hybrids a year sometime after 2010.

Although all the world’s automakers are working on hybrids, Japan’s No. 1 automaker has dozens of patents on the technology and has sold more hybrids than any other automaker.

The most common hybrids today switch between a gas engine and electric motor to deliver better mileage and reduce emissions that cause global warming.

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Bush signed an executive order directing federal agencies to craft regulations that will “cut gasoline consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.” He ordered the agencies – the departments of Transportation, Agriculture and Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency – to have the rules in place by the end of 2008.

The announcement came as gasoline prices hit a new record. The average national price of a gallon of gas reached $3.07 on Monday, above the previous peak of $3.06 set soon after Hurricane Katrina hit at the end of August 2005.

“When it comes to energy and the environment, the American people expect common sense and they expect action,” the president said in a Rose Garden appearance before reporters. “We’re taking action by taking the first steps toward rules that will make our economy stronger, our environment cleaner and our nation more secure for generations to come.”
 
What those rules would look like was anything but clear.

White House press secretary Tony Snow said the president’s position opposing mandatory emissions caps has not changed. While recognizing that greenhouse gases are a serious contributor to climate change, Bush has said that anything other than a voluntary approach would unduly harm the nation’s economy.

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Biodiesel refers to a diesel-equivalent, processed fuel derived from biological sources. Though derived from biological sources, it is a processed fuel that can be readily used in diesel engined vehicles, which distinguishes biodiesel from the straight vegetable oils (SVO) or waste vegetable oils (WVO) used as fuels in some modified diesel vehicles.

In this article’s context, biodiesel refers to alkyl esters made from the transesterification of both vegetable oils and/or animal fats. Biodiesel is biodegradable and non-toxic, and has significantly fewer emissions than petroleum-based diesel when burned. Biodiesel functions in current diesel engines, and is a possible candidate to replace fossil fuels as the world’s primary transport energy source.

Biodiesel can be distributed using today’s infrastructure, and its use and production is increasing rapidly. Fuel stations are beginning to make biodiesel available to consumers, and a growing number of transport fleets use it as an additive in their fuel. Biodiesel is generally more expensive to purchase than petroleum diesel, but can be made at home for much cheaper than either. This differential may diminish due to economies of scale, the rising cost of petroleum and government tax subsidies.

Jessica Alba’s beauty is not disputed in Hollywood.  This is a women who just turned 25, she is gorgeous, and has the world at her finger tip and even with all this she made sure to make mention of hybrid vehicles.  I was surprised to hear someone who is young, care free and financially well off making a statement. 

Jay Leno joked back saying that his corvette was hybrid as well, when he is driving around town the corvette uses gas, when it is on the highway it uses more gas….

Jessica Alba explained that she purchased a Lexus hybrid for herself and also purchased the Prius for her parents.  She also went on to explain how bio-diesel is a great energy alternative.

When Ludacris came on later he tried to poke fun at Jessica when he mentioned a Forumla 1 racing event he attended but Jessica Alba stuck up for herself.

I am impressed.  Most young people, who have lots of money, fame and free time, spend it drinking, doing drugs or wasting time.  Jessica is informed and willing to take a stand.

I hope more celebrities take the time to speak out on this issue!

It is easier to improve your fuel economy than most people think.  Most people do not realize how they drive can directly influence their fuel economy.  With over 65 percent of U.S. and Canadian households owning two or more cars, our recent gasoline price hikes has forced us to rethink our driving habits. According to U.S. Department of Transportation, the average Americans drives an average of 29 miles and can spend somewhere around 55 minutes a day in a car.

A surprising fact is that the national average miles per gallon for cars is around 24.4 miles per gallon, which is the lowest since 1986 when the nation’s overall average was about 25.9 miles per gallon.  With fuel efficient 4 cylinder cars it is surprising to hear that the numbers are actually going backwards and not forward.

As a group, people in North America have taken cheap gas for granted. Inexpensive fuel costs have allowed us the freedom to jump in our cars and go anywhere we want. The good news is that there are ways to increase gas mileage and get more from your gasoline buying dollars. With just a few minor driving adjustments, and a change in driving mentality we can still enjoy our driving freedom and save some money in the process.

First and foremost driving more sensibly is how to increase the gas mileage you are currently getting. If you are an aggressive driver who enjoys speeding, the thrill of high acceleration and high breaking, you are actually wastes gas. Most fuel is wasted by unnecessary high speed accelerations or high speed braking.  If you condition yourself to press your gas pedal less often the more money you will save.  When going down a hill, coast.  Do not brake excessively and then find yourself needing to hit the gas.  Whenever you are driving at highway speeds this type of driving can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent

Many of us cruise around town with no particular destination in mind thereby wasting fuel.  We waste gas by at least 5 percent each year by just cruising around. This 5 to 33 percent waste can result in a 7 cent to 49 cents a gallon wasted money. If you own a car with a 15 – 20 gallon tank, the amount of waste quickly adds up and after just a few fill ups you can see a dramatic difference.

Make sure you are aware of the speed limit when you are driving.  By adhering to the speed limit you will save a lot of money. Gas mileage lowers quickly when you are driving at speeds that are above 60 mph. As a rule of thumb, for every 5 mph that is driven over 60 mph, you are paying an extra 10 cents per gallon.
I have found that using cruise control on the highway helps you to maintain a constant speed which can help you save money on gas.  Cruise control is an excellent way to save fuel, but also be aware that using it while going up or down hills can affect your overall gas performance.  I like to make sure that I control my speeds on hills to really help save fuel.

Consolidating all of your trips and errands will cut down on the driving time which will result in your own gasoline discount.

Have you taken a look in your car’s trunk?  How much space is taken up by unneeded or worse yet garbage? Take the time to clean out that trunk because the heavier the load in your car is, the more gasoline you use.  We understand that some things are important, first aid kit, small roadside tool kit but make sure the stuff you carry is actually needed or useful.

Summer time rolls along and people start to use the air conditioner and this culprit actually uses more fuel then having the windows down.  Try to use your air conditioner sparingly as A/C puts more force on the engine and uses approximately 20% more fuel as a result.

Making these sensible adjustments to your driving habits will help you get the most from your car’s fuel economy.  Making better driving decisions will not only help you get the best miles per gallon of gas, but will also make you a much better and safer driver.

Most people complain about the price they pay at the pumps but they ignore one of the biggest gas savings solutions around.  Tuning up your car and making sure it is running properly is not only a smart idea for increasing the life of the vehicle, but tuning your car up can save you a lot of money at the gas pumps.  It stands to reason, that a car with a new fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, correct tire pressure and the like, will drastically improve your fuel economy.  People forget that running a car when the tire pressure is low actually creates more drag and friction, or when the air filter is plugged it prevents your engine from getting the proper fuel to air mixture which can result in your fuel not burning properly.

Make sure that your cars engine is tuned and running properly.  Fixing a car’s engine that is out of tune or one that has failed an emissions test can result in a gas mileage improvement of about 4 percent.

Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. If you think about it in terms of money, that 10 percent is the equivalent of nearly 15 cents a gallon in actual gasoline savings. Since most cars have a 15 – 20 gallon tank, that amount of savings begins to add up. A car’s air filter prevents impurities from hurting the inside of the engine as well as allowing the car to get the optimum fuel to air mixture.  The right fuel to air mixture allows as much gasoline to be burnt and turned into energy as possible from your car’s engine.

Tire maintenance can also result in gas mileage improvements. Low tire pressure tends to make the car work harder on the roads by causing more friction and drag.  If you keep your tires inflated at their proper pressure you can improve gas mileage by about 3 percent. This can translate into a savings of up to 5 cents a gallon. You can check with the manufacturer of your vehicle for the recommended tire pressure.

Another very important thing you can do, is to keep fuel mileage records.  If a problem arises you will notice a drop in fuel economy which allows you to be proactive in finding a solution.  Getting a regular tune up may mean that you will spend less money in the long run. If you don’t get a tune up regularly, your gas money problems could just end up being the least of your problems.

Maintaining your vehicle is simple to do and can save you more money in the long run by preventing expensive repairs and of course potentially huge fuel savings.  When watching the prices of oil and gas increase make sure you have done all that you can to ensure that your car is running optimally.

We have shown you how you can make your car last longer and you can save up to 17% on your fuel bill on each and every tank. During the course of your cars life these savings can really add up.

 

I think this is one of the most important movies to watch this year. 

With gasoline prices escalating almost daily, fossil fuel shortages, unrest in the oil producing countries of the world and the move towards the hybrid electric cars (Over 140,000 Prius’ sold in the first half of 2006), this story couldn’t be more relevant. The foremost goal of Who Killed the Electric Car is to educate and enlighten audiences with the story of this car, its place in history and in the larger story of our car culture and how it enables our continuing addiction to foreign oil. This is an film holds an important message that not only calls to task the officials who abolished the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, but all of the other accomplices, government, the car companies, Big Oil, even Eco-darling Hydrogen as well as consumers, who turned their backs on the car and embrace embracing instead the SUV. This documentary investigates the death and resurrection of the electric car, as well as the role of renewable energy and sustainable living in our country’s future.

These issues affect everyone person on the planet today from progressive liberals to the neo-conservative right.

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Isn’t it strange that major companies on this planet are not looking for what is best for the world.  Companies that are profess their desire to help the planet, and the planets eco system are tirelessly working behind the scenes to prevent competitors get an advantage, thereby putting our planet at risk.  People need to watch this film and learn the truth behind the electric car and why some very powerful people wish to prevent its success.

The world’s most fuel-efficient vehicle has been unveiled by its British inventor.

Andy Green, 45, from the University of Bath, believes his three-wheel TeamGreen car is capable of doing 8,000 miles to the gallon.

His budget eco-motor cost just £2,000 to build and will be the sole British contender for the title of the world’s most fuel-economic car in a global competition being later this month.

The car, which weighs less than 5 stone – the average weight of a nine-year-old boy – made its debut at the Somerset university campus.

It will compete against 250 teams from around the world for the Shell Eco-Marathon championships in France from May 19.

It has taken Mr Green more than two years to design and build the car, over weekends, holidays and evenings.

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Okay, so the car might be a little impractical to drive but 8000 miles to the gallon is still very impressive.  I wouldn’t want to be on the highway with this baby as no one would see you while changing lanes but it just shows how fuel economical vehicles of tomorrow are going to become.  If they can get 8000 miles to the gallon on this vehicle, you would think it would be possible to get at least 1000 miles to the gallon on a more conventional vehicle.

I say keep up the good work scientist; we are finally learning how to get around the oil companies.