Many Ethanol plants in Iowa and Minnesota are on the verge of bankruptcy — they bought expensive corn futures early last summer, and are now upside down with the corn market, as commodity prices have tumbled. Several large new plants are not being started up as planned this fall and the decrease in gasoline consumption has cut the market demand for Ethanol for blending.

Most of these newer plants have been planned so as to easily switch from corn feedstock to other cellulosic materials at little cost for refitting, so they are not a total loss. My hope is that the Obama management team understand the need to set fairly wide ranging policy and not just narrowly focus on particular subsidy programs, which are not adequate for planning and executing a major shift to different energy sources, and the different kinds of machines that use them.

That the prices remain low makes me wonder if the oil industry is also trying a tactic to keep alternative fuel research (under Obama’s administration) too costly by comparison.

BTW, I am still waiting for the auto industry to manufacture flying cars.
And I brainstormed tonight: a flying car that gets its fuel from sucking in carbon emissions already in the air–like the way a whale shark feeds.

If and when the cars start sputtering in space, well then we’ll know we’re back to a clean environment.

(Again, no joy sticks for steering wheels, please. I know bmaz agrees with me).

This may sound like pie in the sky but this is totally do-able.

A man in Bellingham has achieved the 100 mi per gallon from bellingham to Portland Or. but this was diesel. About 200 miles.

A five year transition and a new economy would be born. General motors,Ford, chrysler and John Dingle would hate that.

I do most of my commuting by bicycle now but being on the road with those tanks and suvs is pretty daunting. I am retired and my job is to excersize and play bridge. We have a 17 mi paved abandoned railroad bed here in Snohomish, WA.

When I ride I can listen to air america or books on tape. I hope someday I will be able to listen to emptywheel somehow.

Jack Cafferty wants to know if the Government should bail out the big three auto makers

I say fuck em

we got 10 million suvs on the highway cuz of those bastards

they can claim they were just selling what people wanted to buy

my response

look where that got you

I believe in the free market

let them fail

If I can build a better car, I should be able to buy a GM plant for $32.64 at an auction, if those stupid fuckers at GM can’t operate a successful business (I might be able to go as high as $68.72, let me check with my bank). It’s called “capitalism”

an if warren buffet is readin this, yes, I’ll take your calls

okay michiganders (and the michigeese) LIGHT ME UP