The Ethanol Papers - Paperturn manuscript - Flipbook - Page 628
Bob Gordon, my business partner at The Auto Channel, and I have long imagined a scenario where local ethanol producers are able to dispense pure ethanol (E100) direct to the consumer at their facilities or at non-traditional filling
stations in conjunction with some big box retailers like Home Depot and Loews
Hardware (harkening back to the very early days before dedicated service stations when an automobile owner would buy fuel at hardware stores). Similarly,
at-home or office deliveries like water and coffee services could open up a
whole new category of entrepreneurial opportunities. There are already some
fuel services like this that are used to deliver fuel to race teams at smaller tracks.
And, of course, roadside assistance services usually carry fuel for those motorists stranded because they ran out of fuel. This business model is incorporated
into the business plan of smaller ethanol producers and manufacturers of “community-sized” distillation plants. David Blume’s Blume Distillation is one example.
Although any unconventional ethanol distribution would most likely only offer
straight ethanol, not ethanol-gasoline blends, Bob and I can imagine interested
consumers would do what I do, and that is pump the desired amount of E85
into the tank of my non-flex fuel Ford Taurus and then pull up to the E10 pump
– or go across the street to a cheaper E10 station – and fill the tank the rest of
the way. Sure, it requires more time, but to me, it’s worth it to save some money
and do my part to help make us less dependent on the bloodsuckers. There’s
no question that not everyone would do this. But we believe that there could be
a few million patriotic vehicle owners across America that would love to do the
same, if they knew they could do it. I think this could be a really, really good
grassroots movement that would have wide-ranging beneficial effect (not beneficial to the oil companies, but that’s one of the best benefits).
WATER USAGE
One of the last topics from Bryce’s book that I’ll address in this “short little” book
review is the issue of water. To be honest with you (as I have throughout), this
one made me laugh. Can you imagine the oil industry and its shills, pretending
that they have a concern with water issues? It is the ultimate in hypocrisy. It’s
not just Nazi-like double speak, it’s like double speak to the 10th power.
The people who brought us global fresh and salt water disasters, who have
killed untold millions of wildlife, who have destroyed untold miles of beautiful
beaches; they’re raising a red flag warning about the water requirements to
produce ethanol.
