Biodiesel banned in Texas - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

justinperkins · #31 01-04-2007, 05:05 PM

Quoted straight from Austin Biofuels:

Quote:

Biodiesel is still legal for sale in all 110 affected counties. It is not likely that it ever will be made illegal.

Suck it big oil.

Biglex · #32 01-04-2007, 05:42 PM

Yeah, and a big fat SUCK IT from WV too!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinperkins

Quoted straight from Austin Biofuels:

Suck it big oil.

Shorebilly · #33 01-04-2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

In general, governments don't use many resources to chase down the lunatic fringe until they actually start doing real damage. If lots of people started selling untaxed fuel, or if they start blowing themselves up in their garages in large numbers, they will probably get smacked. Eventually it will probably happen, someone will complain about their neighbor or some idiot will burn down his house. Until then they are mostly harmless, just cute.

Hey.....you made me a Lunatic Bubba in another thread.......do you have a problem with the drummer that I am steppin' to????

LOL......I just love this Diesel Discussion...........

SB

Shorebilly · #34 01-04-2007, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old300D

When homebrew biodiesel is outlawed only outlaws will brew biodiesel.

Bio-Diesel and Home Growers unite !!! NORM&BFL.......National Organization for Reform of Marijuana and Bio Fuel Laws.........

Hallelujah.......now we're cookin' with gas......!!!

SB

PanzerSD · #35 01-04-2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRIESL

My anger prevented me from asking a question. Does TX have any laws preventing home brewers from producing and burning homemade fuel for personal use? Anyone know?

My guess would be that they aren't testing with Homebrew BD. they probably use the ATSM standard B20 mixture. I've no doubt that if they did use Home brew the NOx readings may have been higher.

There's 4 Biodiesel plants scheduled to begin operation here in Saskatchewan within the next 4 years.

diametricalbenz · #36 01-04-2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Leo

Eversince it started getting Kalifornicated by those cashing in, selling their $1m+, 600 sq/ft dumps in San Diego County and moving to Central Texas where they could inflict their nonsense on us by infecting local government.

Oops, was that my out-loud voice?

Yes, that is CLEARLY what happened.

People don't do things unless there's some motivation.....like the loss of multmillion dollar Christmas bonuses

BodhiBenz1987 · #37 01-04-2007, 11:00 PM

For those sincerely interested in this topic, I suggest reading this document from the EPA. It is mostly inconclusive (as I would expect from almost any study on this topic), but fascinating and food for thought ... in either direction. Download the PDF labeled "Draft Technical Support." It's over 100 pages but lots of charts and not too hard to understand the basic points.
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/models/biodsl.htm

Bottom line is that biosdiesel is not a perfect alternative to petro fuel and should not automatically be considered one. I personally feel that the benefits of biodiesel will eventually outweight whatever drawbacks there are, but it isn't a cut-and-dry case of big evil oil companies making up stuff. This is not about heroes and villains. It is about a very inexact science and a technology in its budding stages. I do think exploration and research with biofuels should be encouraged, but not in a blind flurry of over-optimism.

Don't be too quick to say this is an oil-company conspiracy. They may have a lot of power, but they also have the power to reap huge benefits from alternative energy. I.e., they aren't all as dead-set against alternative energy as you would think. A lot have invested much in that arena and stand to gain a lot from alt energy in the future.

justinperkins · #38 01-05-2007, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987

For those sincerely interested in this topic, I suggest reading this document from the EPA. It is mostly inconclusive (as I would expect from almost any study on this topic), but fascinating and food for thought ... in either direction. Download the PDF labeled "Draft Technical Support." It's over 100 pages but lots of charts and not too hard to understand the basic points.
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/models/biodsl.htm

Bottom line is that biosdiesel is not a perfect alternative to petro fuel and should not automatically be considered one. I personally feel that the benefits of biodiesel will eventually outweight whatever drawbacks there are, but it isn't a cut-and-dry case of big evil oil companies making up stuff. This is not about heroes and villains. It is about a very inexact science and a technology in its budding stages. I do think exploration and research with biofuels should be encouraged, but not in a blind flurry of over-optimism.

Don't be too quick to say this is an oil-company conspiracy. They may have a lot of power, but they also have the power to reap huge benefits from alternative energy. I.e., they aren't all as dead-set against alternative energy as you would think. A lot have invested much in that arena and stand to gain a lot from alt energy in the future.

I've never thought that biod was a "perfect replacement" for petro. If everybody in the US suddenly started using biod, well, we couldn't. There just ain't enough of it to go around and there never will be.

Let's take a conservative estimate and say that using 100% biodiesel will reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 50%, but increases NOx emissions by 5%. Who in their right mind can honestly say that using biodiesel is bad? It just doesn't make sense. That's not even taking into account biodiesel is produced locally.

But if big oil isn't backing biodiesel, then they're losing money for every biodiesel supporter. How many biodiesel users do we have in Texas? 10,000? I have no idea, but let's pretend. Take 10,000 people who drive 12,000 miles year and get on average 25 mpg, that's $12,000,000 (at $2.50/gallon) a year in lost revenue.

If you're big oil, you have two possible choices: support biodiesel and starting recouping some of that money or protest biodiesel. Based on the little support that biodiesel has received so far from oil companies, I think we know what they've chosen.

compress ignite · #39 01-05-2007, 12:36 AM

Big Stupid Government = Big, Smart, Rich Oil Company's Lobbyists.

WDBCB20 · #40 01-05-2007, 01:10 AM

The manufacture of biodiesel is once again a massive centralized industrial process involving caustic chemicals (yes there are those who brew it at home -they are either not or no longer married

) unnecesarily raising the cost and the environmental burden both when produced and when burnt in your diesel engine. Not to mention that biodiesel deteriorates the rubber of your fuel lines.

All this can be avoided by simply rigging your car to preheat the virgin or waste vegetable oil. Kits for this purpose abound.

H-townbenzoboy · #41 01-05-2007, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WDBCB20

Not to mention that biodiesel deteriorates the rubber of your fuel lines.

All this can be avoided by simply rigging your car to preheat the virgin or waste vegetable oil. Kits for this purpose abound.

ALL fuels deteriorate rubber fuel lines, even VO. Rubber fuel lines should be the least of your worries if you get a bad batch of WVO.

Anyway, it makes more sense to modify the fuel to run in your car, not modify the car to run your fuel. Not saying this is a description of you, but it seems like more W123s are being bought and hacked up with these kits without regard, simply for the purpose of using cheap or free fuel by folks who couldn't care less about who made the car, instead of being bought because the person is a true MB enthusiast who appreciates the qualities of a well built, properly maintained vehicle. But who am I to sound like I'm the unquestioned authority on these matters? It's your car and your hard earned money, you do what you want with it.

But I guess there is a upside, considering some MB diesels are being saved from the scrapyard as a result, and this experience may turn someone looking for cheap fuel into a MB enthusiast who's just gotta buy more and more of them and save them from a worse fate (remember, these cars are addictive

).

justinperkins · #42 01-05-2007, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WDBCB20

The manufacture of biodiesel is once again a massive centralized industrial process involving caustic chemicals (yes there are those who brew it at home -they are either not or no longer married

) unnecesarily raising the cost and the environmental burden both when produced and when burnt in your diesel engine. Not to mention that biodiesel deteriorates the rubber of your fuel lines.

All this can be avoided by simply rigging your car to preheat the virgin or waste vegetable oil. Kits for this purpose abound.

You have no idea what you are talking about.

Biodiesel is good for your engine as-is. VO needs to be super filtered and you need to modify your fuel system to run it. Even then, you run a high risk of ruining your IP and/or injectors. The choice for me is obvious.

Frankie · #43 01-05-2007, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD Blue

Hmmm...........the enviro-nazis of the EPA are feuding with biodiesel advocates.

Possibly the biodiesel advocates are creating a slight loss in tax revenue, which in turn means the big maybe of slightly less EPA funding.

I really doubt a global commodity, oil company has this much concern over a tiny, fledgeling operation of biodiesel in just one state. Now if they were making huge dents in profits worldwide, then I might see steps taken to influence competition.

Are you kidding me? Do you think that is it just a coincidence that this is happening in Texas? Oil companies might as well try to stomp biodiesel in it's infancy. Why not? It would cost less to do it now, before the biofuels industry grows and at least put up as many roadblocks for biodiesel now than to do it later. . . when there is a higher possiblility of having a eco-smart president in office. Notice that I did not mention a political party. Oil industry certainly has the power to do this in their own backyard.
Down with the oil companies!! Support US grown crop use!
My two cents.
Frankie

Lostyankee · #44 01-05-2007, 10:53 AM

I can picture Tx Ranger types sniffing my fuel cap. I'll keep a diesel soaked rag under the flap!

Mark DiSilvestro · #45 01-05-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lostyankee

I can picture Tx Ranger types sniffing my fuel cap. I'll keep a diesel soaked rag under the flap!

They'll probably take a fuel sample and use some sort of test-kit that changes color, like the ones for drug-busts, then cuff you and seize the car. Maybe you'll even get an appearance on the show 'Cops'!

Happy Motoring, Mark