Energy Independence | USAEnergyIndependence.com

Energy Independence | USAEnergyIndependence.com

Thank You. Mr. President

October 12, 2006

“I really appreciate that. Thank you.”

With true earnestness and heart-felt sincerity I did not think I’d get or warrant, I had simple phatic communion with the President yesterday. We were in a receiving line at the Advancing Renewable Energy Conference in St. Louis. “We” were about 200 or so conference-goers composed of DOE and USDA PHD economists, agronomists and staffers, renewable energy industry association members, business leaders and others who were fortunate to be close to the podium. There were about 1000 conferees in the Hall whose expertise covered Wind, Solar, Ethanol, E85, Biodiesel, and other abstracts and permutations of bioenergy.

Mike Johanns, Secretary of USDA, Sam Bodman, Secretary of DOE were there too.
(How often do you get the President and 2 Cabinet Level members in the same space at the same time?) I don’t think anyone can quibble about the Administration’s commitment to our Energy Independence, not with these guys passionately pushing the Agenda.

Concern for the future of Renewable Energy from an Oil Man, as the President described himself, was refreshing. But like others in the audience, including Partner Keith Sanderson and I whose careers started in the Mining business 30 years ago, it was important to share the same communion and passion. There were others in the audience there who had been working on the Renewable Energy “experiment” for the last 30 years who never gave up the hope for a brighter, less oil-dependent future. Their time for recognition had come. We are grateful to them.

When I reached out to shake the President’s hand, I said “Thank you for all you’ve done for us sir.” Distracted by the line-of-hands, he first looked forward to the next person in the receiving line, then looked back to me and said, “I really appreciate that. Thank you.” He then looked ahead, looked back at me again with a quick glance, smiled and moved on.

OPEC’S GREED ANOTHER REASON FOR ALTERNATIVE FUEL !

During the recent spike in oil prices the members of the OPEC Cartel saw an interesting phenomenon reinforced. Oil Consuming nations are willing and seemingly able to pay increasingly higher prices for oil.

Now that demand has lessened for oil and oil prices have returned to more moderate levels, it seems OPEC plans to hold a meeting of its members and make a decision to reduce oil production in to prevent oil prices from continuing their current downward trend.

I want to thank the members of OPEC for being greedy and showing the world their true colors. Perhaps your greed will be like a cold dose of reality. Maybe more Americans will wake up to the fact that when one is dependent on a substance, be it oil, or drugs, and a cartel controls the supply, price is a matter of how greedy the cartel wishes to be. The brutal truth is a cartel will gladly hike its prices as the substance it controls becomes in shorter supply or the consumer becomes more and more addicted; OPEC is no different.

The conference for Advancing Renewable Energy is being held in St. Louis on October 10-12. USA Energy Independence is proud to be a sponsor of this event. Members of our staff look forward to listening to the speakers and interviewing some of them. Some leading companies will be exhibiting at the conference and we plan to visit their exhibit booths, as well talk with other attendees.

We will then post what we heard, saw and learned on www.usaenergyindpendence.com in order to provide our visitors with information about what is going on in the quest for Advancing Renewable Energy. We believe it is activity such as advancing renewable energy that will reduce this nation’s dependency on the OPEC Cartel and move us closer to USA Energy Independence.

Keith Sanderson
Cofounder USA Energy Independence
President and Editorial Director

Motorweek Discusses Biodiesel on PBS in 2005

Biodiesel information as presented by Motorweek in 2005.

The Ethanol Boom

Americans Find A Fuel Source In Corn Technology Energy Gas Oil Fuel As oil prices continue to rise, Americans are getting their fuel from an unlikely source – corn. Across the country, plants are opening that convert corn into ethanol - a clean burning, renewable fuel. Ethanol improves car performance since it cleans the engine, fuel lines and increases the octane of a blended fuel. It also helps the environment – a 10 percent blend of ethanol in fuel can reduce emissions by up to 30 percent. Thousands of gas stations across the country offer drivers 10 percent ethanol blend fuel, and more than 600 stations offer 85 percent ethanol. That number is expected to grow with the recently passed energy bill that mandates an increase in ethanol fuel production. As demand grows, producers are using automation technology to produce ethanol more efficiently. SOT: - David Vandergriend, ICM - David Meyer, Siemens - Ron Fagen, Fagen Inc. - David Reisz, Farmer - Al Jentz, Plant Manager, Amaizing Energy - Kate Brookes, On Scene - Becky Constant, Amaizing Energy, Board of Directors - Eugene Gochenour,Farmer B-roll: - Corn stalks - Trucks unloading corn at plant - Gas stations offering ethanol blend - Cars on road Produced for Siemens

Ethanol vs. Gasoline

KEYWORDS: General Motors Automobiles Cars Consumer Fuel Gas STORY SUMMARY: As the price of gas hits record highs, alternative fuel sources continue to be debated. One alternative fuel which has been touted for years as a renewable, low-emission resource that could replace oil is gaining momentum. More than four million vehicles on the road today can run on gasoline as well as ethanol, the clean-burning fuel made from corn and other biomass sources. The number of stations offering ethanol has also jumped 60 percent since the beginning of the year. Current flexible fuel vehicles can run on as much as 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. A gallon of ethanol is 20 to 30 cents less than regular gasoline, with little difference in ease-of-use at the pump or car performance. General Motors says as much as 30 percent of our gasoline consumption could be replaced by ethanol if it were to become available across the country. SOT: - Tom Stephens, General Motors – Rick Hittle, Arizona Petroleum

911 Remembrance

On 9-11 2001 my lawyer son was in an elevator on his way up to the 77th floor of the Sears Tower. His mother and I reached him by phone each individually to let him know in no uncertain terms to get the hell out of the building. It was about 9 a.m. A short time later, as I watched a BBC broadcast on my computer, the first tower fell. I called my son again who was now on the street and told him what I saw. No further words were needed. He ran away from the building.

For those other sons and daughters, the ones in the Towers, at the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania, the ones who couldn't run, no further words are needed! We remember them, the sacrifice of the First Responders, this day, and pray that tomorrow all the cowards behind the act will soon be delivered to their Maker.
So, let us join with the President and First Lady, and say a few words, in silence. Let us all remember them today and forever.
We've stopped running.

The Prices, They Are A-Changin!

Bob Dylan said it in his song, “The Times, They Are A-Changin.” And when it comes to energy, the times have changed. We have found that the times have changed from an abundance of available energy reserves to seemingly that of teetering on the brink of shortages.

Now, a new tune might be better titled “Prices, They Are A-Changin.” The hard undeniable fact is that cheap and abundant energy, the very stuff that helped make this nation great are no longer either cheap or seemingly abundant.

The history of this country has been one of having and using vast energy resources. It’s that availability and the development of technologies to develop the resources that has helped make this country great.

When the first Europeans arrived they found vast forests which supplied them a seemingly infinite amount of wood to heat their homes and to stoke their forges.

Through the 1600’s and into the 1700’s the colonies grew and prospered. One reason for their growth and prosperity was the abundance of water to power their grain and saw mills.

Then, what should be awaiting the industrial revolution when it came to this young nation in the 1800’s? Coal. Coal was plentiful. Throughout the nineteenth century coal driven steam engines powered the boats, the trains, and the factories that through the decades drove the engines of commerce.

When the internal combustion engine made its entrance, again, as if by magic the United States was blessed with an abundant resource. This time it was petroleum that could be refined into gasoline and diesel fuel. And again the economy grew and prospered as a direct consequence of the combination of ample petroleum resources and the internal combustion engine’s proliferation across the landscape.

Now, a very serious question confronts us. What happens when a society faces the prospect of continuously increasing energy prices and energy shortages? Answer: Inflation, unemployment, and worse; a spiraling decrease in the standard of living of its citizens.

The irony is the United States really doesn’t have an energy resource shortage. The nation faces a shortage of the will to act in becoming energy independent. Coal, oil shale, hydrogen, biofuels, solar, wind and other alternative sources all hold the promise for both short term solutions and long term solutions.

There is even a possibility of the discovery and development of an energy source that is not even currently perceived as existing. Does that prospect seem far fetched? Think about this. Who knew about gasoline in the 1850’s? Few if any visionaries in the mid 19th century could imagine the impact of gasoline, the internal combustion engine and the network of highways that tied this nation together in the 20th century.

The predictable technological future of those 19th century experts was steam engine driven technology. They could not foresee the amazing changes in energy resources and technology that propelled us through the 20th century. It just may be that there is a great and wonderful and unexpected technological energy surprise awaiting us. Even if there isn’t there are many options near at hand that can provide us USA Energy Independence,

However, unless we act… Unless our leaders forge a Declaration of USA Energy Independence policy that attacks our dependency on offshore oil, you, and I, our children and grandchildren will pay the consequences. Instead of continuing to be a nation built on a combination of abundant energy resources that are utilized to continually raise the standard of living, we will decline to a second rate power, faced with not only food shortages, but shortages of almost everything.


Keith Sanderson is co-founder USA-EI

Without Energy, We Will Be Extinct.

As the most powerful nation in the history of the world, the U.S. faces today its most critical challenge. It’s not from a foreign foe, from Iranian threats of $200/barrel oil, from war between Israel and Hezbollah, but from our own appetite for energy, primarily oil.

We are on tender hooks. An interruption of the Alaskan oil field supply leading to a loss of daily production of nearly 400,000 barrels is what has confronted us just this morning. That loss will take days, weeks, perhaps months to fix according to BP, the oil field owner/operator. The production loss may trigger the draw down of our Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the first time since the Clinton Administration.

That loss alone could send gasoline prices up another $1.00/ gallon over the next several weeks according to my commodity broker friends. But WAIT THAT’S AN EASY PROJECTION. It doesn’t stop there. T. Boone Pickens, the hedge fund oilman and billionaire geologist, said last week that annual worldwide consumption is 86 million barrels/day and production is 80 million barrels/day. You do the math: $4.00/gallon gasoline is an almost surety even before this Alaskan production shortfall.

And it’s not going away this time. No energy cycle from expensive to cheap. I spent the first 10 years of my career in the mining business, riding the energy-induced mining equipment boom (and bust) following the Arab Oil Embargo. By the mid ‘80s cheap oil was again in front of us and it fueled anew our dependence on unstable sources of supply.

Are we in la la land or what? This country lives on oil. We consume most of the world’s energy, our transportation network feeds our lifestyle “oil- habitation” and sprawl… we’ve all seen this coming.

USA Energy Independence needs an emergency, a national call to action. I’ve heard just in the last few weeks (sound bites all) John Kerry, George Bush, Howard Dean, Joe Lieberman and Hillary call for USA Energy Independence. Some of them actually have a plan. But the plans involve Ethanol or Oil Sands Or Coal or BioDiesel or Hydrogen, singularly or in some loose concert. It needs cohesiveness and greater immediacy, a central non-partisan focus, with statesmen not politicians, to pull us together.

We already have a national energy emergency, so we need a 911 energy-independence mentality, a Cabinet level position on Energy National Security, a daily review in the Oval Office of Energy Self Reliance initiatives, a Press Corps asking for daily Energy briefings, and more, for us to finally turn the corner on this Oil-Induced Hard Reality and Pain-at-the-Pump.

Join with us. Send a message to our leadership. Give us your email address and your zipcode (we’ll never share it) at http://www.usaenergyindependence.com. Maybe together we can bring the President from Crawford to the White House now to address this issue. He can even bring Cindy Sheehan and her Press entourage.


Bill Wolski is co-founder USA-EI.

To plan or not to plan for USA energy independence

In the late 1990’s a barrel of oil cost $10 on the world market. Today’s cost is over $70 per barrel, and some analysts are predicting it to go to $100 per barrel within the next couple of years.
In 2003 over 30,000 people died in France as a result of a heat wave, which appear with greater frequency and ferocity than at any time since weather records have been kept. Glaciers are receding. As a group, scientists have accepted global warming as a reality, and many of those same scientists place the blame squarely on our burning of fossil fuels.
Over the past 50 years, everything’s changed, yet nothing’s changed. Simply stated, there are human beings and more human beings using fossil fuels for personal transportation than ever before. There is more air conditioning, more refrigeration, and more lighting. All of which require greater amounts of electricity. Those are major changes.
Yet for all the significant changes that have occurred, there has been little change in the types of energy consumed, or – or more importance – our approach to solving any of our long-term energy issues. And, of more immediate importance to Americans, over the past 50 years we are less energy independent, not more.
If energy independence is the objective, is it better to have a plan, or is it better to let market forces determine who purchases the energy resources, and for how much? I put this question to Arnold Baker, Chief Economist for Sandia National Laboratories and former president of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE).
Baker indicated that having a comprehensive plan for energy independence is important, noting “it does make sense for the government to have an integrated policy for energy independence, because it is not just energy we are talking about, but economics and the environment as well. An integrated policy would balance our need for energy with our need for a clean environment and a strong economy. Additionally, it would provide a road map for others to follow.”
When asked why the U.S. has failed to put together a long-term, strategic plan for energy independence, Baker pointed out that “every individual and interest / advocacy group is affected by energy. The Sierra Club has its agenda, as does a congressional representative from Alaska or Texas or Oklahoma, as do so many other groups. You cannot find one person or organization in our society that isn’t directly affected by energy cost or energy availability. All have a voice and all influence in the debate. As a result, it’s been nearly impossible for politicians to reconcile competing interests. But it’s important to try and do so.”
According to Baker, the primary benefits to having a comprehensive energy policy geared toward independence include improved economic growth, economic and physical security, and a cleaner and healthier environment.
Improved economic growth results from being free of world oil markets and their resulting price fluctuations. Improved economic and physical security will result from, among other things, eliminating the need to be entangled in Middle Eastern politics. And a cleaner and healthier environment results from using advancements in technology to reduce emissions and find alternate methods of delivering and consuming energy.

Glenn Lewin, President, Newberry Research
Nationally, Lewin is best known for the 2002 book he authored THE BUSINESS REPORTER’S HANDBOOK, and the 2005 book COVERING BUSINESS he co-authored with Robert Reed. He has also worked on various projects for nationally known businesses such as Illinois based Caterpillar, McGraw-Hill Publishing of New York, and many other leading corporations.

Mr. Lewin holds an MA in Industrial Counseling and Psychology, with honors, from Northeastern Illinois University, with an undergraduate degree from Monmouth College, IL. In addition Mr. Lewin earned a certificate in Applied Statistics and Data Analysis from The Bradford-Gibson Institute of Management. He also completed the Harvard Graduate School of Management’s executive program in Competition and Strategy.

Middleclass Families Deserve Better

The low cost of energy is fast coming to an end and that means much more than the real possibility of $4.00 a gallon gasoline.

There are many reasons for this, pick one. Political instability in the middle east, global oil production that seems to have peaked while demand continues to rise, no new refineries coming online, hurricanes and more. All of these reasons conspire to drive up not only the price of a gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel, but also the price of natural gas.

As the price of these important energy sources climbs so will virtually the cost of all goods that are dependent on transport, and/or that are made from petroleum, or manufactured in facilities that use natural gas or oil to heat or manufacture products.

If you have concluded that means the price of everything from lettuce to jock straps will be impacted, you are right.

Yet, things seem to roll on as usual on capital hill. This is despite the fact that in the already seriously squeezed American Middle Class, families are going to take some serious hits in their budgets. But why should congress worry about what Middle America thinks when mom and dad are working to hard to have time to express their opinions.

The irony is that during the Arab Oil Embargo we had a taste of how drastically the soaring cost of energy impacted almost everything. Those who are old enough can recall interests rates climbing to 17 percent or greater, high unemployment, no economic growth, and inflation were the consequences. All of these nasty economic jolts were created by a relatively short blip to oil stream.

Now, more than thirty years later, even though we use less imported energy, the price of our oil and natural gas is set at a global price. That means America is at the mercy of all the factors that can and do increase oil and natural gas prices.

There is a ground swell of technological development of alternative energy resources as well as more traditional sources. However, changing from our current energy diet to a diet of alternative energy sources will mean setting priorities, the allocation of resources, and the processing and transportation of energy.

Congress is beginning to slowly awaken to the oncoming problem. As usual our representatives are quick to blame everyone but themselves and are going through their finger pointing exercises. Next will come the patronizing sound bites meant to assure voters that our leaders are concerned. Both parties have already made their inane suggestions about what to do, and cynics believe there will be many more lethargic energy gestures to come.

Soon, hastily conceived bills that are mostly sizzle and of little substance will be debated and voted upon. Lastly, our leaders will assure us all will be good and the nasty energy problem will go away.

Don’t let Congress lead us down the road of flim and flam. Let them know you want and expect a USA Declaration of Energy Independence policy to be forged. A policy that provides both short term and long term solutions to a problem that is as sure as taxes to affect our way of life and disposable income.

Tell your congressperson how you feel. Cast your vote and let your voice be heard favoring the development of a USA Energy Declaration of Independence.

Congressman Kirk Does Not Respond

Wheaton IL , July 29, 2006 For Immediate Release.

Kirk and Some Other Illinois Politicians Lethargic In Responding To Energy
Question!
Keith Sanderson co-founder of USA Energy Independence and a resident of
Deerfield, IL which is in Congressman Mark Kirk’s
10th Congressional District announced today that the Congressman has been
sluggish in responding to the question regarding Energy Independence.
The question, “what are you and your colleagues planning to do to avert a
possible short term energy crisis and a probable long term energy crisis,”. was
posed by voice mail, two e-mails and also by personal conversation with one
of Kirk’s staffers on July 17th and 18th.
Other Illinois politicians, including Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama,
Congresswoman Judy Biggert of the Illinois 13th District, Governor Rod
Blagojevich and Republican candidate for governor, Judy Barr Topinka were asked
the same question.
So far Senator Durbin is the only Illinois politician that was queried who
has responded to the question about energy. The question posed to Durbin and
his response may be seen _www.usaenergyindependence.com_
(http://www.usaenergyindependence.com/) .
” Sanderson said. “Frankly, I am disappointed in Kirk’s apparent apathy
regarding what he plans to do to avert a possible short term energy crisis and a
probable long term energy crisis, Illinois can take a lead in the
production and processing of ethanol and other Bio-fuels. I was sure he would be
eager to respond to a constituent of the 10th Congressional District about a
subject as important as energy dependency on offshore sources..
The nonpartisan website,usaenergyindependence (http://www.usaenergyindependence.com) ,
was launched on the week of July 4, 2006. It is the definitive Internet website source for
information about USA Energy Independence. A unique feature of the web site allows visitors
to cast their votes for USA Energy Independence. Comments and views of elected political representatives and
candidates regarding USA Energy Independence are also posted on the site..
(End).

WASHINGTON - Leading House Democrats will introduce a bill tomorrow to take America in a new direction to achieve energy independence. The Program for Real Energy Security, or "PROGRESS" Act, will initiate a major national effort to make substantial gains in technology, conservation and vehicle efficiency, and the use of alternative fuels to advance America's national, energy and environmental security.

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD), Rep. John Dingell (MI), Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Democrat, Rep. Jim Oberstar, Transportation Committee Ranking Democrat, Rep. Mark Udall (CO), co-chair of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, Rep. Stephanie Herseth (SD), co-chair of the House Democratic Rural Working Group and member of the House Agriculture Committee, and Rep. Earl Blumenauer, member of the House Transportation Committee and Task Force on Livable Communities, will introduce the bill.

The PROGRESS Act complements other House Democratic efforts on energy independence, including the Innovation Agenda and the Energizing America, BIOFUELS Act.

On June 14 via email I asked Senator Durbin of IL this question:

My question is relative to the dependency the United States has on offshore petroleum and natural gas energy resources and the consequences of this dependency. What do you believe needs to be done to avert a possible short term energy crisis and a probable long term energy crisis?

I would like to post your answer on www.usaenergyindependence.com so our visitors may gain insight to where you and other elected officials of both parties stand on this impending crisis. If you choose not to answer we will place you in the column of political leaders who elected not to respond to our question.

Here is his response on July 17.

July 17, 2006

Thank you for contacting me about gasoline prices. I appreciate hearing
from you.

I am deeply troubled about the effect of high gasoline prices on Illinois
residents. As the price of a barrel of oil has skyrocketed beyond $70,
oil companies have charged consumers far more than the companies' costs
for more expensive crude oil and for exploration and development. As a
result, Americans are subsidizing some of the largest annual profits in
the history of U.S. business. This is depleting the savings of consumers
who in many cases are struggling just to pay for food and other
necessities of life.

The increasing oil demand of a rapidly industrializing China and India and
political instability in numerous oil-producing countries are raising the
price of crude. Last year, I called on the President to begin an
investigation into whether oil companies are taking advantage of these
conditions to raise retail prices disproportionately.

We should begin by scrutinizing the mergers among the large oil companies.
These mergers have weakened competition and the accompanying pressure to
lower prices and profits, allowing five enormous oil companies to enjoy
record profits while deflecting the blame for high prices. I have urged
the President to get tough on price gouging, but he has been unwilling to
do so.

A new direction is needed in energy policy. We must cut our oil
consumption and develop promising alternative energy sources. If we
increase the vehicle fuel economy (CAFE) standards required for our
vehicles, we can save up to 100 billion gallons of gasoline by 2015. And
the reduced fuel expenses would keep billions of dollars in American
consumers' wallets each year.

I have long championed the use of ethanol, a domestically produced,
renewable energy source, and I believe it can be a significant part of our
energy policy. Ethanol reduces air pollution, buttresses our national
security by replacing imported crude oil, strengthens the rural economy,
and creates jobs as ethanol production facilities are built and operated.
In a nearly pure form, ethanol can also be an alternative to gasoline for
use in specially-designed E-85 vehicles. In 1987, I was the first member
of Congress to propose that the United States require that its gasoline
supply include 5 billion gallons of ethanol. Since then, the federal
Reformulated Gasoline Program's requirement that ethanol or other fuel
additives be mixed with gasoline in metropolitan areas has led to dramatic
reductions in ground-level ozone levels in Chicago.

Every year, Illinois produces more ethanol than any other state - about
800 million gallons. This generates nearly $6 billion a year in economic
activity for the United States and plays a vital role in the rural economy
of Illinois.

Long-term energy solutions for our nation's homes, businesses, and
vehicles will come from a variety of alternative energy resources.
Scientists and engineers are confronting the obstacles to the development
and commercialization of many promising sources of energy, such as
hydropower, hydrogen, solar, biomass, and geothermal. Congress has
offered major federal incentives for research and development to assist in
jumping these hurdles.

These steps can help America move forward toward a more stable energy
supply and a more secure energy future.

I will keep your thoughts in mind as I continue to work for a more
sensible energy policy. Again, thank you for your message. Please feel
free to keep in touch.


Sincerely,

Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator

RJD/

P.S. If you are ever visiting Washington, please feel free to join Senator
Obama and me at our weekly constituent coffee. When the Senate is in
session, we provide coffee and donuts every Thursday at 8:30 a.m. as we
hear what is on the minds of Illinoisans and respond to your questions.
We would welcome your participation. Please call my D.C. office for more
details.


Keith

US Ethanol Fueled Vehicles

UsaEnergyIndependence.com landing page.

Promote Energy Independence

America’s current dependence on foreign oil poses great risks for our country, including threats to our national security, economic instability, and significant environmental damage. We need a comprehensive energy program that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil by developing new energy technologies and enhancing fuel efficiency standards.

Both chambers of Congress are currently contemplating legislation directed at the urgent need to curtail the United States’ domestic oil consumption and our dependence on foreign oil (S.2025 in the Senate and H.R.4409 in the House of Representatives). These bills set a national oil savings target which would be met by improving energy efficiency, developing alternative energy technologies, and authorizing the establishment of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for heavy duty motor vehicles. Both pieces of legislation would reduce our domestic oil consumption by at least 2.5 million barrels per day (12.5% of current consumption) in a decade.

• To view AJC’s Letter to the Senate supporting the Vehicle and Fuel Choices for American Security Act, click here.
• To view a press release on AJC joining the Set America Free Coalition, click here.

Please urge your Senators and Representative to cosponsor S.2025 and H.R.4409 to help reduce substantially our dependence on foreign oil.

Take Action

FOXNews.com - Study: Ethanol Won't Solve Energy Problems - Science News | Current Articles

Energy Policy Act of 2005 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Provisions

The Act was intended to establish a comprehensive, long-range energy policy. It provides incentives for traditional energy production as well as newer, more efficient energy technologies, and conservation. More than 1,700 pages long, the Act has hundreds of provisions. Major items include:

* Provides an Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005 Commercial Building Deduction for energy efficient building improvements
* Provides a tax credit of up to $3,400 for owners of hybrid vehicles;
* Authorizes loan guarantees for 'innovative technologies' that avoid greenhouse gases, which might include advanced nuclear reactor designs (such as PBMR) as well as clean coal and renewable energy;
* Increases the amount of biofuel (usually ethanol) that must be mixed with gasoline sold in the United States to triple the current requirement (7.5 billion gallons by 2012);
* Seeks to increase coal as an energy source while also reducing air pollution, through authorizing $200 million annually for clean coal initiatives, repealing the current 160-acre cap on coal leases, allowing the advanced payment of royalties from coal mines and requiring an assessment of coal resources on federal lands that are not national parks;
* Authorizes subsidies for wind energy, and other alternative energy producers;
* Adds ocean energy sources including wave power and tidal power for the first time as separately identified renewable technologies;
* Authorizes $50 million annually over the life of the bill for a biomass grant program;
* Contains several provisions aimed at making geothermal energy more competitive with fossil fuels in generating electricity;
* Requires the Department of Energy to study and report on existing natural energy resources including wind, solar, waves and tides;
* Provides tax breaks for those making energy conservation improvements to their homes;
"

Energy Policy Act of 2005

KeepMedia | Lexington Herald-Leader: Understanding ethanol

KeepMedia | BusinessWeek: Not Your Father's Ethanol

KeepMedia | Bradenton Herald: Ethanol trend may cost you

JS Online:Doyle plan to call for higher use of renewable energy

Governor Doyle: Governor Doyle, Industry, Environmental, and Education Leaders Sign Wisconsin's "Declaration of Energy Independence"
7/7/2006

On the Road to Energy Independence

NREL: Feature Story - NREL Research Helps Deliver Clean, Solar Electricity to Thousands of Homes in the Southwest

Shares of Ethanol Producer Aventine Dip in NYSE debut

Aventine Renewable loses steam in open market - MarketWatch

First images made of hydrogen burning in working internal combustion engine

Argonne engineers are the first to capture hydrogen combustion images inside an engine operating at real-world speeds. The red and yellow images show the more intense temperatures.
Images of hydrogen combustion have been captured for the first time in an internal combustion engine operating at real-world speeds and loads by engineers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory. This window into the inner workings of a hydrogen-powered engine is helping to optimize the engines for street use some day.

CEI: Resources - Press Releases: "Community Energy, Inc. Announces Launch of CTCleanEnergyOptionsSM
All Connecticut electric customers can now purchase NewWind Energy®
on their utility bill through new voluntary clean energy program


Hartford, CT - The nation's leading wind energy supplier, Community Energy, Inc. (CEI), announced today the availability of NewWind Energy® to Connecticut consumers through the CTCleanEnergyOptionsSM program; a voluntary new program being offered statewide to all electric customers in the Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating service territories.

CTCleanEnergyOptions enables residents to choose clean, domestic energy for their home or business - produced by resources such as new wind power and landfill gas. CEI's product allows Connecticut residents to make a difference with their purchase. Elizabeth Vitale, of Hartford, CT noted: 'I want to see more focus on developing alternative energy sources, and signing up for it for our home is one way to support those efforts. If everyone did their part, we'd all have a healthier neighborhood - and planet - to live in.'

Commercial and residential customers, such as Vitale, who sign up for CTCleanEnergyOptions will be supporting the development of new clean energy resources in the Northeast region. CEI's New England Director, Jeff Keeler, said: "We are proud to work with the State of Connecticut, Connecticut Light & Power, United Illuminating and the Connecticut environmental community to bring a clean energy option to all Connecticut consumers. The more customers who sign up for Community Energy's CTCleanEnergyOptions offering, the more wind energy will be built in the Northeast."

CEI was chosen through a competitive bid process by the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) to offer a clean energy product through the CTCleanEnergyOptions program that is high in new, emission-free wind energy content and yet still affordable for Connecticut consumers. CEI's offering is composed of 50% NewWind Energy® and 50% Landfill Gas from sources in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region and will cost just 1.1 cent per kilowatt hour more than standard electric service for the 100% of usage offering or 0.55 cents per kilowatt hour extra for the 50% of usage offering. Based on the average Connecticut monthly usage of 600 kilowatt-hours per month, participating in CTCleanEnergyOptions with CEI would cost the average customer as little as $3.30 per month.

Bill inserts providing customers the opportunity to choose CEI's CTCleanEnergyOptions offering are being delivered to every electric customer with their April Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating bill. Customers can also sign up at any time by visiting www.newwindenergy.com, or by calling Community Energy at 1-866-WIND-123.

Community Energy, Inc. (CEI) is a leading national retail marketer/developer of wind-generated power. CEI has partnered with over a dozen utilities, competitive electric suppliers, and municipalities to offer a renewable energy choice directly to retail electric customers. CEI was founded in 1999 with the mission to ignite the market and develop the supply of wind and other fuel-free renewable energy sources. CEI cites its retail customers, which include many of the largest purchasers of wind energy in the country, as the reason for its success in bringing wind energy to market in new regions of the country. CEI has wind projects under development in New England, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and other states east of the Mississippi River.

BREITBART.COM - Bush: Climate change is 'serious problem': "Bush: Climate change is 'serious problem'
Jun 26 2:50 PM US/Eastern


US President George W. Bush said it was time to move past a debate over whether human activity is a significant factor behind global warming and into a discussion of possible remedies.

'I have said consistently that global warming is a serious problem. There's a debate over whether it's manmade or naturally caused,' Bush told reporters.

'We ought to get beyond that debate and start implementing the technologies necessary to enable us to achieve a couple of big objectives: One, be good stewards of the environment; two, become less dependent on foreign sources of oil, for economic reasons as for national security reasons,' he said.

Bush cited 'clean-coal technology,' efforts to develop automobiles powered by hydrogen or ethanol, and his push for the United States to develop significant new nuclear energy capabilities.

'The truth of the matter is, if this country wants to get rid of its greenhouse gases, we've got to have the nuclear power industry be vibrant and viable,' he said."

"As much as I love and respect my friend Jim Cramer, I have to disagree with his view that ethanol is a fad. I agree some companies are overvalued, but I don't believe that ethanol itself is a fad."
John Bradshaw Layfield

JBL: Defending Ethanol

Fact Sheet: Promoting Energy Independence and Security: "Fact Sheet: Promoting Energy Independence and Security, April 27, 2006.

Today's Presidential Action
April 27, 2006

Today, President Bush Delivered Remarks On Energy Policy At The Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week Conference In Washington, D.C. The President stressed the need to promote greater energy independence by harnessing the power of technology to create new sources of energy and make more efficient use of existing resources. The President outlined his broad vision for moving America toward greater energy independence and announced five new energy policy initiatives:

# The Department of Energy (DOE) will work to reduce uncertainty in the licensing process for new nuclear power plants and to provide Federal risk insurance to mitigate the additional cost of unforeseen delays.

# The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will simplify regulations to encourage the expansion of refining capacity, and Federal agencies will work with States and local communities to encourage the construction of new refineries on closed military sites.

# The President will call on Congress to make clear federal authority over siting of new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals to increase supply and reduce prices.

# The President will support the extension of his proposed tax credits for energy-efficient hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles to include clean-diesel vehicles.

# The President will encourage the deployment of new and clean energy technologies in the developing world at the G-8 Summit in July.

Background: Our Growing Economy Requires Affordable, Reliable, And Secure Supplies Of Energy

Use Technology To Boost Domestic Energy Production. Over the past decade, America's energy consumption has increased by more than 12 percent, yet domestic production has increased by less than 0.5 percent.

# Nuclear Power Can Provide For Tomorrow's Needs. Technology has made nuclear power safer, cleaner, and ..."

Bloomberg.com: Energy Prices: "
Energy Prices

PETROLEUM ($/bbl)
PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME
Nymex Crude Future 70.84 -.03 -.04 17:12
Dated Brent Spot 69.46 .41 .59 06/23
WTI Cushing Spot 70.69 .20 .28 06/23

PETROLEUM (¢/gal)
PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME
Nymex Heating Oil Future 196.50 .24 .12 16:57
Nymex Gasoline Future 212.85 .09 .04 17:01

NATURAL GAS ($/MMBtu)
PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME
Nymex Henry Hub Future 6.21 -.02 -.26 16:17
Henry Hub Spot 6.14 -.37 -5.68 06/23
New York City Gate Spot 6.49 -.71 -9.86 06/23

ELECTRICITY ($/megawatt hour)
PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME
Mid-Columbia, firm on-peak, spot 61.69 5.03 8.88 06/23
Palo Verde, firm on-peak, spot 74.77 .39 .52 06/23
Bloomberg, firm on-peak, day ahead spot/West Coast 70.55 .10 .14 06/23

*Commodity futures and energy prices are in U.S. dollars."

Friday, June 23, 2006 · Last updated 2:31 p.m. PT

Oil prices hover around $71 a barrel

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON -- U.S. oil futures were steady on Friday with little fresh news to drive trading, following gains in the two prior sessions. Prices remained above $70 a barrel, buoyed by strong global demand, a Gulf Coast shipping snag and concerns about the unresolved tension between the West and Iran.

Light sweet crude for August delivery rose 3 cents to settle at $70.87 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, where gasoline futures were up by less than a penny to close at $2.1276 per gallon.

Brent crude for August fell $1.87 to $68.08 a barrel on London's ICE Futures exchange...

Oil prices hover around $71 a barrel

The rise in oil prices....

It is perhaps too early to talk of an energy "crisis".

Fossil fuels have been the cheapest and most convenient so far

But take your pick from terms like "serious concern" and "major issue" and you will not be far from the positions which analysts are increasingly adopting.

The reason for their concern can be found in a set of factors which are pulling in glaringly different directions:

Demand for energy, in all its forms, is rising

Supplies of key fuels - notably oil and gas - show signs of decline

Mainstream climate science suggests that reducing greenhouse gas emissions within two decades would be a prudent thing to do

Meanwhile the Earth's population continues to rise, with the majority of its six billion people hankering after a richer lifestyle - ...
Source (BBC NEWS)

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Energy gap: Crisis for humanity?

BBC NEWS | Business | Bush plans to tackle petrol price

If there ever was a time for energy independence, it's about time now! Let's not waste another minute. Threats from the outside never seem to subside.

BBC NEWS | Business | Iran war 'could triple oil price'

Is Butanaol A Better Fuel Alternative than Ethanol?

Butanol is a four carbon alcohol. Alcohols are a family of chemical compounds that also include methanol (1-carbon), ethanol (2-carbon) and propanol (3-carbon). Some of the more common uses for alcohol are alcoholic beverages (ethanol), propanol is commonly used for rubbing alcohol, chemical solvents - paint thinner and fuels. Initially, EEI will produce and market butanol as a solvent, with the future intent of selling butanol as a fuel."


How does butanol compare with ethanol as an alternative fuel?

Butanol has many superior properties as an alternative fuel when compared to ethanol. These include:

• Higher energy content (110,000 Btu’s per gallon for butanol vs. 84,000 Btu per gallon for ethanol). Gasoline contains about 115,000 Btu’s per gallon.
• Butanol is six times less “evaporative” than ethanol and 13.5 times less evaporative than gasoline, making it safer to use as an oxygenate in Arizona, California and other states, thereby eliminating the need for very special blends during the summer and winter months.
• Butanol can be shipped through existing fuel pipelines where ethanol must be transported via rail, barge or truck
• Butanol can be used as a replacement for gasoline gallon for gallon e.g. 100%, or any other percentage. Ethanol can only be used as an additive to gasoline up to about 85% and then only after significant modifications to the engine. Worldwide 10% ethanol blends predominate.

Make your own biodiesel: Journey to Forever

Anybody can make biodiesel. It's easy, you can make it in your kitchen -- and it's BETTER than the petro-diesel fuel the big oil companies sell you. Your diesel motor will run better and last longer on your home-made fuel, and it's much cleaner -- better for the environment and better for health. If you make it from used cooking oil it's not only cheap but you'll be recycling a troublesome waste product. Best of all is the GREAT feeling of freedom, independence and empowerment it will give you. Here's how to do it -- everything you need to know.

Source: JourneytoForever .org

It’s about time our leaders listened to us, the people!

It’s about members of Congress and other elected officials acted to assure the ongoing strength and prosperity of the United States.

It’s about time our elected legislators, governors and president exhibit leadership so that this generation and future generations of Americans are not the pawns of those who control offshore energy resources.

It’s about time state and federal legislators, state governors, local mayors and the President of the United States understand that we view any dependence on offshore energy as a threat to our inalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness that were guaranteed to the citizens of this country by the signers of The Declaration of Independence.

Starting on this Fourth of July 2006 join your fellow citizens and sign the Declaration of Energy Independence.

This petition will be forwarded to the House and Senate Leaders of both parties, as well as to the President of the United States and other elected state legislators and governors and mayors.

Your signature will help focus attention to the need of the leadership and action by this country to formulate both short-term and long-term plans that will assure the realistic reduction of dependence on offshore energy, for us, our children and future generations of Americans.

To join, visit our website usaenergyindependence.com

Ford exec urges feds to help boost number of flex-fuel pumps - MarketWatch

Morningstar - PR Newswire: ADM and Millennium Ethanol Announce Marketing Agreement

BUTTON IT, BEN By PAUL THARP - New York Post Online Edition: Business

How to escape the Oil Trap
Fareed Zakaria
Source: Newsweek

By Fareed Zakaria

Newsweek

Aug. 29 - Sept. 5, 2005 issue - If I could change one thing about American foreign policy, what would it be? The answer is easy, but it's not something most of us think of as foreign policy. I would adopt a serious national program geared toward energy efficiency and independence. Reducing our dependence on oil would be the single greatest multiplier of
Zakaria: Oil Prices Cripple U.S. Foreign Policy - Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com

Proposed Hydrogen Highways in California

Source: EnergyIndependencenow.org

Energy Independence Now - California Map

Iowa Governor signs bill supporting e85

Our future and the future of coming generations will be increasingly affected by our dependence on foreign sources of oil. If you think $3.00 a gallon gasoline is costly, think about the continuing economic and geopolitical consequences of being dependent on areas of the Mideast and what that means for the future. Let's do something about it. Subscribe to the next issue of It's About Time at
usaenergyindependence.com

BREITBART.COM - Stocks Slide on Iran Supply Threats

Map to E85 Fueling locations

High fuel prices lift wind energy

FAA takes the wind out of wind farms | Chicago Tribune

Government-Industry cooperative to build zero-emissions power plant.
FutureGen, a power plant of the future that promises to bring power to 250,000 residents with near zero emissions is part of a Government and Industry initiated cooperative well on its way to becoming a reality.
Part of the Bush administration's effort through the Department of Energy and the FutureGen Industrial Alliance (FGIA), composed of several energy companies (American Electric Power, BHP Billiton, CONSOL, Foundation Coal, China Huaneng Group, Kennecott Energy, Peabody Energy and Southern Energy), the mission of the cooperative is to develop a generating station using upcoming technologies to sequester carbon monoxide deep in underground geological formations with near zero emissions to the atmosphere.
Conceived in 2002, the $1-billion project has been moving forward with a site selection process. There are at this point 12 contenders, based near coal fields in the Midwest and West (see separate inset story)....

Register with usaenergyindependence.com to view the entire article.

DOE - Fossil Energy: DOE's FutureGen Initiative

All Headline News - British Inventor Unveils 8000 MPG Car - May 13, 2006

USA Energy Independence

Pork Power. My alma mater knows how to turn a state resource into fuel.

AP Wire | 04/28/2006 | ILLINOIS STYLE: UI researcher makes crude oil from pig manure

GM - only GM

LearnAboutCoal.org Blog

CURC -- Coal Utilization Research Council: "

I am more concerned about the long term consequences of being dependent on offshore oil and natural gas. Over the short term the current high prices may stabilize or go down. Over the long term their will be a increasing global competition for diminishing reserves. We need to have our leaders focus on more than short term patch work fixes. Concerned citizens need to sign a Declaration of USA Energy Independence and let our leaders know we are fed-up with their partisian finger pointing and patronizing solutions.

It's about time, isn't it?
I don't know about you, but we're sick and tired of hearing about gas prices threatening to hit $5.00 a gallon by this summer, how Iran's threat of oil interruption is an excuse for the speculators to drive a barrel of oil to $75 and higher, how the switch to summer blends is driving spot shortages of gasoline in some areas. It goes on and on. So what are we going to do about it? First thing is to let your local congressman know that you're not going to take it any more.
We'll be putting up a few links of our own until some real initiatives are taken. For now, join in. We're waiting to hear from you. Keep it short and sweet.