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Microsoft Bill Gates

sig232sig232 Member Posts: 8,018
edited May 2006 in General Discussion
It was announced in the Portland, OR newspaper this AM, the Oregonian, that Bill Gates is providing some major funding to build Ethanol plants in Oregon and Washington.

That is very positive news in my opinion. It shows that money from sources other than big oil is moving into a competitive industry. Just hope big oil doesn't dump the price to put them all out of business once they get up and running.

Comments

  • ccddbb95448ccddbb95448 Member Posts: 796 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    old news ticker is peix [:)]
  • EVILDR235EVILDR235 Member Posts: 4,398 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Then he sells it all to China for a bunch of cheap computer parts.
    EvilDr235
  • SawBonesBobSawBonesBob Member Posts: 44 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Who is in the market for ethanol fuel ? Do you think it might be feasible to convert existing petro-hogs into alcohol burners ? As long as the auto makers aren't making cars that burn alcohol, I think the oil companies are pretty safe.
  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by SawBonesBob
    Who is in the market for ethanol fuel ? Do you think it might be feasible to convert existing petro-hogs into alcohol burners ? As long as the auto makers aren't making cars that burn alcohol, I think the oil companies are pretty safe.


    It is my understanding that a large portion of the new cars on the market are flex fuel viechles, its just not advertised very well. All flex fuel viechles should be identified with a yellow gas cap and i believe on the id sticker in the door jam.
  • gunnut505gunnut505 Member Posts: 10,290
    edited November -1
    I think that Mr. Gates owns a substantial amount of "Big Oil" stocks, and wishes again to diversify his holdings.
    The guy's not stoopid; he has seen the Future, and he owns most of it.

    That Ethanol thing is tricky.
    The fuel concoction proposed is for 85% Ethanol in which other flammable substance?
    Might it be.....oh, I don't know,....um, Gasoline?!
    So when is the Great Migration to a "purely" Alcohol-based Economy?
    What date has been set for the total, immediate switch-over from Gas?
    Don't fool yourself into thinking that a different basis for a fuel supply is a totally Good thing; think about the ramifications of T. Boone Pickens going out of business and all those good-paying American jobs that will vanish or become redundant.

    If you think past the immediate; you see the complexity of it all.
  • hughbetchahughbetcha Member Posts: 7,801 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by SawBonesBob
    Who is in the market for ethanol fuel ? Do you think it might be feasible to convert existing petro-hogs into alcohol burners ? As long as the auto makers aren't making cars that burn alcohol, I think the oil companies are pretty safe.


    Several automakers offer dual-fuel options. It's not hard to make a gas engine run on alcohol. Dealerships in the midwest stock duel fuel vehicles cause that's where the ethanol is mostly sold. Car dealers in the northwest could order dual fuel vehicles if there was a demand for them, which will require a supply of ethanol.
  • scottm21166scottm21166 Member Posts: 20,723
    edited November -1
    ethenol isn't the answer either...while it does come from a renewable source a drought could wipe out grain supplies and put us in a mess immediately.
    Oil companies have purchased many patents over the years that allow gas burning engines to achieve much better economy. I personally know a man who invented a part for the carb on his own 76 ford grenada with a 302 engine to obtain 70+ MPG....(bought by texaco)when things get tough enough, I imagine they will sell or lease the patents to car makers for huge dough
  • sig232sig232 Member Posts: 8,018
    edited November -1
    Yes, all of the big three make flex fuel models and have for a few years. Check their websites they will identify the models.

    No its not necessary to transition to Ethanol right away. Brazil did not do it that way. They just started supplementing gasoline with an alternative fuel. then as gas prices continued to rise, people started buying the Ethanol. In fact they prodicted that only a small portion of folks would buy the Ethanol, I think like 25%, but surprise almost 75% jumped on board quickly.

    So if we buy 60%+ oil from outside of the US we could reduce that buy using some Ethanol 85, some Ethanol 5%, some Bio-diesel, some electric, etc. Lets set our goals at reasonable levels and start slowly reducing the amount of oil purchased from the middle east, south america and other locations. It will keep the money in the US and help the balance of payment problem a lot.
  • ozwynozwyn Member Posts: 189 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ethanol is well positioned to replace MBTE, so it is a good Gates investment given that even if E85 doesn't take off, winter formulated gas will need ethanol.

    A lot of cars will run just fine on E10, which isn't really even considered a flex fuel.

    Ethanol may not be the magic bullet, but it can (in theory) do some good.
  • iwannausernameiwannausername Member Posts: 7,131
    edited November -1
    Wonder if he'll modify his 959 to run on the stuff...
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