The Wheels Come Off the Biodiesel Wagon

The Energy Collective ^ | Jan 4, 2010 | Robert Rapier

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Ever see a “lab” where they make biodiesel?

The few documentaries I’ve seen, I was stunned at how much energy/electricity those labs require to put out a tiny amount of biodiesel. And they were not running on biodiesel.

[RU88]

Another picture perfect example of the unintended consequences of governmental good intentions.

[magellan]

Despite $80/barrel oil, biodiesel needs subsidies. Therein lies the problem.

[Yo-Yo]

Meanwhile, synthetic jet fuel from coal is taking off.

[Eye of Unk]

The problem is that what used to be sources for free waste cooking oils and such wizened up to it and are now charging for it.

[spokeshave]

Same thing happened in Spain...big Government subsidies to created solar cell and wind farm industries....everything boomed until the Govt ran out of money (mortgae mess etc) and the projcts were cancelled.

net result...high unemployment and Govt strapped for cash...taxes up...etc...

[snoringbear]

“Despite $80/barrel oil, biodiesel needs subsidies. Therein lies the problem.”

Yeah for sure. Let's see; bio-diesel subsidies, $.50/gal subsidy for ethanol, $1,000 tax credit to GM/Ford/Chrysler for each flex-fuel manufactured. Tax credit to purchaser's of hybrids, electric cars, no use/road tax on cost of electricity and it's use from home recepticals-yet. What else are those few folks who actually pay taxes getting screwed on? Must have missed some more...

[Hodar]

U.S. tax dollars had been generously subsidizing biodiesel that was being exported out of the U.S. ...

Just a matter of years ago, Diesel was selling for $5/gallon; and the mental midgets in Washington are exporting the bio-diesel US taxpayers financed? Whatever happened to that quaint old term of 'Treason'? Corruption should carry the death penalty - it's just that simple. Fry up a couple hundred Representatives, hang a couple dozen Senators - and I THINK we'll find that those who survive will learn to read and follow the Constitution that they swore to defend.

I'd like to know what Consitutional authority gives them the right to sell commodities financed by the US taxpayer, to other countries - when the US taxpayer is still paying exhorbinate prices. Now, if desiel prices were below $1/gallon; sure, sell the excess. But, as most retards would know and understand - US first, then after we have fulfilled our needs; we sell our excess on the world market.

[Red Badger]

Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.....

If you want ON or OFF the DIESEL ”KnOcK” LIST just FReepmail me.....

This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days.....

Yo! Thanks to YO-Yo!!............

[Red Badger]

Whatever you “tax” you get less of. Whatever you “subsidize” you get more of.

The US subsidized Bio-D, and therefore got too much of it, so it was shipped to the EU.

The EU had too much of IMPORTED Bio-D, so they taxed it to get rid of it.

[calex59]

I’ll tell you how to handle subsidies for any fuel(or any product as far as that goes). You get rid of them. If the product is good enough to make it on its own, then fine, let the company produce it and make a profit, which would lead to job creation. However, having every tax payer in America paying the freight is just BS and points to a failing industry. End subsidies for ANY product, including farm subsidies.

[CPOSharky]

Slightly off topic...I noticed that E-85 is a whole TWO cents cheaper than regular.

Where’s the ‘green’ in that?

[Concho]

That is partly correct. One more thing goes along with it, if you end the subsidies, you end the government interference and regulation of that same commodity, otherwise it isnt going to work.

Our big problem with everything here is Government. Until we get the Government out of our lives, we will not recover.

[stefanbatory]

we subsidise fuel that we export to europe, they subsidize airplanes that they export to us...it’s a deal for the consumers of the products, but not for the people paying the subsidies...plus the producers get to keep their jobs despite being at a competitive disadvantage...

[woodbutcher1963]

Also, did we not put a tarrif/tax on Ethenol coming out of Brazil to subsidize our ethenol producers in this country so we could take our feed corn and turn it into fuel.
Makes alot of sense to me.

[Yo-Yo]

Slightly off topic...I noticed that E-85 is a whole TWO cents cheaper than regular.

When factoring in the lower energy density of E-85 and the resulting lower mileage, E-85 ain't two cents cheaper, it's more expensive.

[wendy1946]

What if anything is happening with the oil from algae idea? As I read it, that would be vastly more efficient than trying to make oil out of any kind of plant or vegetable.

[BfloGuy]

the mental midgets in Washington are exporting the bio-diesel US taxpayers financed?

Um, no. Let's be clear. The government doesn't make the bio-diesel and it doesn't export it. Good ol' American citizens -- entrepreneurs actually - export it.

Remember this, too - the government didn't create the trade deficit either. We did!

Now, it is true that government subsidises bio-diesel production (bad!), so let's focus on that.

One more time: the government doesn't import or export. We do!

[thackney]

Multiple companies are working on commercial sized algae to fuel facilities. Most are working on pilot projects to prove the lab process can be economically scaled up to a larger size.