Texas biodiesel ban will just have to wait until next Christmas
WIRED's blog doesn't miss much, including framing this interesting story in terms former Texas Governor George W. Bush can understand: Texas Stays Biodiesel Execution (the state executed 131 prisoners while he was governor).The headline refers to environmental officials in Texas who decided to delay a proposed biodiesel fuel ban, pending further studying of the biofuel's emissions. The main suspect is NOx emissions, which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is worried might be higher than those allowed under a 2005 law when blends higher than B20 are used. As WIRED points out, different studies have shown different NOx emissions from biodiesel. The TCEQ voted on Dec. 23rd to put off a decision for another year. Call it a Christmas present to the biodiesel industry Texas, since the state is the second largest consumer of biodiesel in the country (behind Iowa).
[Source: Wired]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
zeroEV 2:34AM (1/05/2007)
In Europe the home-made biodiesel ban is simplier. In all fuel types, theres is a tax rate in it (not little). If you made your fuel yourself at home, you evade taxes. Soooo, you have to pay horrible fines or go to jail...
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Guenther 8:55AM (1/05/2007)
ZEV- this pending ban is not (primarily) concerned with home-made grease diesel. Grease diesel has 2 problems- the state politely asks you to send in a check for your excise tax, and there is no DOT cert, so it's not legal to be transported as motor fuel. funny, huh.
The texas dilema is concerned with mass produced biodiesel, which has long been known to have lower particulate emissions, but higher NOx emissions. Mostly, I smell crude all over this though.
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Tim 10:22AM (12/12/2007)
This is a classic case of tyranny. Biodiesel could save consumers money, lower emissions, and stimulate technological growth. Yet, big business with our obsequious elected officials can fabricate some reason to shut down a growing industry because it may hurt profits. They allow numerous concrete plants and coal plants to produce tons and tons of poisonous emissions without saying a word. But behold a handful of consumers drive a car running on non-monopolized fuel and the move to shut it down. SICK!
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