The Conservative Cave
Current Events => Politics => Topic started by: CG6468 on January 10, 2012, 02:46:30 PM
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A Fine for Not Using a Biofuel That Doesn’t Exist
David Eggen for The New York Times
Refiners are required to blend motor fuel with cellulosic biofuel made from wood chips or the inedible parts of plants like corn cobs.
By MATTHEW L. WALD
Published: January 9, 2012
WASHINGTON — When the companies that supply motor fuel close the books on 2011, they will pay about $6.8 million in penalties to the Treasury because they failed to mix a special type of biofuel into their gasoline and diesel as required by law.
Fermentation tanks at a demonstration-scale cellulosic plant in Scotland, S.D., built by Poet, an ethanol producer that is planning a commercial-scale plant in Iowa.
At the South Dakota plant, Poet is testing its technology and the economics of producing ethanol from plant waste.
But there was none to be had. Outside a handful of laboratories and workshops, the ingredient, cellulosic biofuel, does not exist.
In 2012, the oil companies expect to pay even higher penalties for failing to blend in the fuel, which is made from wood chips or the inedible parts of plants like corncobs. Refiners were required to blend 6.6 million gallons into gasoline and diesel in 2011 and face a quota of 8.65 million gallons this year.
“It belies logic,†Charles T. Drevna, the president of the National Petrochemicals and Refiners Association, said of the 2011 quota. And raising the quota for 2012 when there is no production makes even less sense, he said.
Belies logic? Thanks, blamidiot. That's like saying that the Pacific Ocean is slightly damp.
Not available? Here's yer fine anyway. (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/business/energy-environment/companies-face-fines-for-not-using-unavailable-biofuel.html)
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6.6 million gallons into gasoline and diesel in 2011 and face a quota of 8.65 million gallons this year....that's not even the proverbial drop in the bucket.
...and how many tax dollars have been wasted on this energy source scam?
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Well I wouldn't pay a dime, and then when the Gestapo comes to get their money I would sue their pants off.
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The oil companies certainly have the legal and financial resources to contest it for legal impossiblity.
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There was an article awhile back about these plants springing up. On how they provided no benefit whatsoever, other than funneling money to the people setting them up, through inefficient and lobbyist pushed legislation. They're a disservice to the market, purchasers, oil companies, and environment. Sigh