And Then There was Biobutanol

Butanol's been around since the 1950's. While E85 (Ethanol) is a good short-term solution to get people switching to alternative, renewable, domestic energy, and get us OFF OPEC fuel, watch for Butanol, or as it's now being termed, "Biobutanol," to be the next evolutionary step.

What's so dern good about Biobutanol?  Well, for one thing, you don't have to purchase a conversion kit, nor a new "Flex Fuel" vehicle (adding to the purchase price over $1k).  Nope, Biobutanol - according to our friends at DuPont (and who wouldn't trust them?) runs in "normal, everyday" car engines.  

 So, the switch-a-roo over to DOMESTIC, renewable, cleaner-burning biofuel, as opposed to FOREIGN OPECKER, non-renewable, dirty-burining (cough, cough) fossil fuel is closer than we may think. Yes, I said "OPECKER." So sue me.

So the question is, WHEN? Some say eighteen months, some say three years until we get to the point where Biobutanol can be produced in "mass quantities" (a favorite quote from my buddy, Dan Akroyd).   I say, double whatever "they" say. 

Next question? How do we get college kids to just PRODUCE THIS STUFF in the biolabs at major universities, and just SELL it to us, rather than waiting for BP Amoco (DuPont's former family-owned mega corp by the way) or another $40 Billion-in-profit-why-should-we-ruin-a-good-thing oil company to bring it to market.

I don't know about you, but I just don't buy all that P.R. coming from the big oil companies, not to mention the promises made by American car companies to produce 25% of their 2006, '07 or '08 fleets as "flex fuel."  

The empty promises reminds me of those Wendy's ads when the old lady looks between two empty hamburger buns and grumbles, "Where's the BEEF?" 

Well, as always, I'll keep on keepin' on! Next week, I'm off to COLORADO to meet with some E-85 folks, then off to an E-85 CONVERSION KIT manufacturer who says they are "this close" to getting EPA approval." Let's hope so.

Meanwhile the Biofuel Conference is going on this week in Golden, Colorado, and I've got a guy out there that's going to give us the scoop on new developments...

Tah tah for now! 

John