GoodFuels

US to become gas exporter?

Kicking Tires, a blog for car aficionados, has posted about a rather interesting find from a study done by global management consulting firm Booz & Company.

Could the United States possibly become an energy exporter?

Kicking Tires suggests that with India’s population explosion, their need for gasoline is going to jump higher and higher, especially with more afforable vehicles coming on the market. At the same time, our demand for gasoline is decreasing due to higher costs across the board.

The result? America could be importing oil to sell gasoline to India. How’s that for a head-trip?

With all the shifts in energy needs and Americans strapped for cash, could this be possible in the next few years? Could a complete change in the way this country thinks about energy be far behind such a move? Put your thoughts in the comments.

USDA Secretary Schafer champions biofuels

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Secretary Ed Schafer has written a letter to the editor that appeared in the Wall Street Journal this morning.

Secretary Schafer begins by applauding the EPA’s recent decision to deny Texas Governor Rick Perry’s request to waive the Renewable Fuels Standard.

This decision has recently generated some critical commentary in your pages. I, however, support and applaud the EPA’s decision. Renewable energy is a tremendous American success story. We are the world leader in biofuels. Since 2000, U.S. ethanol production has quadrupled. Biodiesel production soared from two million gallons to 450 million last year. Cellulosic ethanol, which will derive fuel from non-food feedstocks, is moving into production.

Schafer also points out that the rising cost of grain in recent months is attributable to skyrocketing gasoline prices and other factors.

Yes, there are ripple effects, but the sharp rise in global grain prices in recent years is driven primarily by soaring energy costs, improved diets in rapidly developing nations, two years of bad weather in some countries, and new export restrictions in several nations. U.S. biofuels production contributed only an estimated 0.2%-0.6% to the 5.1% rise in U.S. consumer food costs.

Read the entire letter online here.

Here’s Your Sign

You’re probably familiar with comedian Bill Engvall’s signature bit “Here’s your sign” that pokes fun at people who ask dumb questions to which the answers should be obvious.

Well, the next time someone asks, “Why should we support domestic production of ethanol?” - here’s their sign, courtesy of the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council. They have several others as part of an advertising campaign that started earlier this month encouraging supporters to “sign up for ethanol.”

The campaign highlights the role of ethanol in increased energy security, economic development and decreased gas prices.

The goal for the group is to get at least 4,000 state residents to register their support at the web site signupforethanol.com but the website has been attracting hundreds of ethanol supporters nationwide. Names of people from at least 25 other states are listed on the website ethanol supporter scroll. States from east to west and north to south are represented - including California, New York, Florida, New Hampshire, Washington, Arizona and more.

Here’s your sign - the Middle East or the Midwest - the choice is yours.