Live from the National Biodiesel Conference
What can you do right now for the environment? The possibilities are endless. That is what the Biodiesel Conference is all about.
Walking through the displays it is clear that not only is there a lot that can be done to improve the environment but it can be done right now. The technology is there, it exists. But, it is not known by many in the public. Why is this? Is it a conspiracy from our government, or more scary still, other governments trying to keep this technology away from the general public? Or is it just a matter of the general population accepting it as something mainstream?
Let’s start with the conspiracy theory, I don’t think that is it. I know that many people believe in conspiracy theories and they wonder why our government is not using the technology it has. People, there is not some government warehouse below Washington that houses all our technology secrets just to keep them from being used. It is not like that. The technology is just not quite to the point where it is making big money. Until the technology and the industry can show that it can make 40 billion dollars (Exxon made 40.6 billion dollars US last year) from the use of biofuels and biodiesel we will always be dependent on other countries oil.
So then it must be the public. Yes that is true. People say that they want change, they also say that the only reason that they do not have a “green” vehicle right now is that the car companies don’t sell them enough. The car companies say that there is not enough interest to make a lot of cars. The reality is that most diesel cars can run on biodiesel the way iit is with little to no modifications. Also, biodiesel is easy to make; many people have proven that. So why don’t we do it? It is not easy and not convenient. We don’t have time to make the fuel ourselves, and we don’t have the extra $100 to change a car over to biofuel.
It is clear at the conference that the problem is distribution. There are a few bugs to work out on preserving the fuel to be transported. It is biological so yes there are little things that will try to grow in it, especially if there is some water involved. Also, water is not good for engines so we need to make sure that there is no threat of water contamination. The real problem is that I can’t go to my corner gas station and fuel up with biofuel. I do believe that people will pay a little more per gallon of fuel to break away from foreign dependence on gas for our cars.
Want the good news? By all estimates production of biodiesel is half of what gasoline would cost, about $1 less per gallon. For example, instead of fueling up the car for $3.08 per gallon in Orlando, FL, (like I did today) I could have done it for $2.08 a gallon, a savings of $12 for the tank. Generally, I fuel up about once a week so that would save me $48 for the month. That instead is a nice night out for me and my sweetie.
Calling all entrepreneurs. Calling all entrepreneurs. There is great opportunity here. Millions of dollars a year are spent on technology. If you think you have solutions, most likely there is someone out there who is willing to pay for it.
