I respect your privacy and I am committed to safeguarding your privacy while online at this site ethanolfix.blogspot.com The following discloses how I gather and disseminate information for this Blog.
RSS Feeds and Email Updates
If a user wishes to subscribe to my RSS Feeds or Email Updates (powered by Feedburner), I ask for contact information such as name and email address. Users may opt-out of these communications at any time. Your personal information will never be sold or given to a third party.
Log Files and Stats
Like most blogging platforms I use log files, in my case Statcounter. This stores information such as internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring, exit and visited pages, platform used, date/time stamp, track user’s movement in the whole, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information.
Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s computer tied to information about the user. This blog doesn't use cookies.
Links
This Blog contains links to other sites. Consider that I am not responsible for the privacy practices of these other sites. I suggest my users to be aware of this when they leave this blog and to read the privacy statements of each and every site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Blog.
Advertisers
I use outside ad companies to display ads on this blog. These ads may contain cookies and are collected by the advertising companies and I do not have access to this information. I work with the following advertising companies: Google Adsense.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Is Ethanol Overrated? I think so!
Ethanol has two major factors to consider when looking at the overall industry.
One is to see it as a pure investment play, and no matter what you feel about how the industry has emerged, and some of the negative impacts it's already producing, it's still a legitimate business to you.
Second, is the way the industry has come about; whether it's really producing much benefit, is a true alternative fuel, and if in reality it can survive over the long haul.
To honestly study the industry, one must cut through a lot of misinformation and punditry to reach the facts; especially with proponents of the alternative fuel, who have close to a religious affiliation with it, to the point where to attack it is similar to attacking someone's true religious beliefs.
To me, we have to be willing to look at all aspects and sides of the industry to get a true picture of its long-term possibility as an investment, as well as if it has real possibilities in its present form to be both fuel and cost efficient.
The fact that it has to be subsidized with tax dollars to even be an industry, and mandated by law, shows the public in general doesn't care one way or the other if it is successful or used for fuel in the way proposed. It's obviously been used as a fuel additive for some time.
Now that it's causing major disruptions in the agriculture industry, and generating a lot of food inflation, people are already starting to question if it's worth the effort and cost; and rightly so.
It's the key source of inflation at the grocery store, and is having that impact all over the world. In other words, it's the poor people that will suffer again because of the unintended consequences that always come from government initiated programs like this.
Not only is there the artificial demand generated by the law to grow more corn to feed the ethanol beast, but it is causing wheat growers to move more corn into their fields, which is causing the price of wheat to rise because of a lower supply.
So, the idea is to look at these two sides of the issue as we go forward. Someone may invest in ethanol without necessarily believing it does any good - and even may cause more harm than any potential benefit - yet still make money because of the way the whole industry is set up.
At the same time, we can put it under the microscope and find out if it really is worth the time and effort to pursue. I personally think in the long term this is going to be another government program eventually dropped after billions of dollars are spent and lost because of someone bypassing the facts and turning it into a cause.
One is to see it as a pure investment play, and no matter what you feel about how the industry has emerged, and some of the negative impacts it's already producing, it's still a legitimate business to you.
Second, is the way the industry has come about; whether it's really producing much benefit, is a true alternative fuel, and if in reality it can survive over the long haul.
To honestly study the industry, one must cut through a lot of misinformation and punditry to reach the facts; especially with proponents of the alternative fuel, who have close to a religious affiliation with it, to the point where to attack it is similar to attacking someone's true religious beliefs.
To me, we have to be willing to look at all aspects and sides of the industry to get a true picture of its long-term possibility as an investment, as well as if it has real possibilities in its present form to be both fuel and cost efficient.
The fact that it has to be subsidized with tax dollars to even be an industry, and mandated by law, shows the public in general doesn't care one way or the other if it is successful or used for fuel in the way proposed. It's obviously been used as a fuel additive for some time.
Now that it's causing major disruptions in the agriculture industry, and generating a lot of food inflation, people are already starting to question if it's worth the effort and cost; and rightly so.
It's the key source of inflation at the grocery store, and is having that impact all over the world. In other words, it's the poor people that will suffer again because of the unintended consequences that always come from government initiated programs like this.
Not only is there the artificial demand generated by the law to grow more corn to feed the ethanol beast, but it is causing wheat growers to move more corn into their fields, which is causing the price of wheat to rise because of a lower supply.
So, the idea is to look at these two sides of the issue as we go forward. Someone may invest in ethanol without necessarily believing it does any good - and even may cause more harm than any potential benefit - yet still make money because of the way the whole industry is set up.
At the same time, we can put it under the microscope and find out if it really is worth the time and effort to pursue. I personally think in the long term this is going to be another government program eventually dropped after billions of dollars are spent and lost because of someone bypassing the facts and turning it into a cause.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Privacy Policy
Update April 2009 - Privacy PolicyThis website/blog uses third-party advertising companies to serve ads when visiting this site. These third parties may collect and use information (but not your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you.
If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, you can visit Google's Advertising and Privacy page.If you wish to opt out of Advertising companies tracking and tailoring advertisements to your surfing patterns you may do so at Network Advertising Initiative.Google uses the Doubleclick DART cookie to serve ads across it's Adsense network and you can get further information regarding the DART cookie at Doubleclick as well as opt out options at Google's Privacy Center
I respect your privacy and I am committed to safeguarding your privacy while online at this site ethanolfix.blogspot.com. The following discloses how I gather and disseminate information for this Blog.
RSS Feeds and Email Updates
If a user wishes to subscribe to my RSS Feeds or Email Updates (powered by Feedburner), I ask for contact information such as name and email address. Users may opt-out of these communications at any time. Your personal information will never be sold or given to a third party.
Log Files and Stats
Like most blogging platforms I use log files, in my case Statcounter. This stores information such as internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring, exit and visited pages, platform used, date/time stamp, track user’s movement in the whole, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information.
Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s computer tied to information about the user. This blog doesn't use cookies.
Links
This Blog contains links to other sites. Consider that I am not responsible for the privacy practices of these other sites. I suggest my users to be aware of this when they leave this blog and to read the privacy statements of each and every site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Blog.
Advertisers
I use outside ad companies to display ads on this blog. These ads may contain cookies and are collected by the advertising companies and I do not have access to this information. I work with the following advertising companies: Google Adsense.
If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, you can visit Google's Advertising and Privacy page.If you wish to opt out of Advertising companies tracking and tailoring advertisements to your surfing patterns you may do so at Network Advertising Initiative.Google uses the Doubleclick DART cookie to serve ads across it's Adsense network and you can get further information regarding the DART cookie at Doubleclick as well as opt out options at Google's Privacy Center
I respect your privacy and I am committed to safeguarding your privacy while online at this site ethanolfix.blogspot.com. The following discloses how I gather and disseminate information for this Blog.
RSS Feeds and Email Updates
If a user wishes to subscribe to my RSS Feeds or Email Updates (powered by Feedburner), I ask for contact information such as name and email address. Users may opt-out of these communications at any time. Your personal information will never be sold or given to a third party.
Log Files and Stats
Like most blogging platforms I use log files, in my case Statcounter. This stores information such as internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring, exit and visited pages, platform used, date/time stamp, track user’s movement in the whole, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information.
Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s computer tied to information about the user. This blog doesn't use cookies.
Links
This Blog contains links to other sites. Consider that I am not responsible for the privacy practices of these other sites. I suggest my users to be aware of this when they leave this blog and to read the privacy statements of each and every site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Blog.
Advertisers
I use outside ad companies to display ads on this blog. These ads may contain cookies and are collected by the advertising companies and I do not have access to this information. I work with the following advertising companies: Google Adsense.
Ethanex - Kansas Ethanol Company - says will File for Bankruptcy
Saying they weren't able to secure interim financing to continue operations, Ethanex Energy (OTC BB: EHTE.OB) says it has plans to file for bankruptcy.
In a federal filing on March 24, the company stated they had ceased operating, and they now have a skeleton staff of three.
This effectively ends an agreement where they were going to buy an ethanol plant in Nebraska for $50 million, which is owned by Midwest Renewable Energy.
Ethanex needed $1.5 million in short-term financing to continue operating.
In a federal filing on March 24, the company stated they had ceased operating, and they now have a skeleton staff of three.
This effectively ends an agreement where they were going to buy an ethanol plant in Nebraska for $50 million, which is owned by Midwest Renewable Energy.
Ethanex needed $1.5 million in short-term financing to continue operating.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Ethanol Continues to Victimize Consumers through Higher Grain Costs
The taxpayer subsidies included with producing ethanol continue to take their toll on consumers, as higher grain costs are impacting the prices of a number of goods; including cereal.
An AP report said: "The cost of grain has affected a number of companies, especially those that make cereals. Grain prices have skyrocketed largely due to demand for corn used to make the alternative fuel ethanol."
Company officials for General Mills (NYSE: GIS) said it was their highly successful marketing of over several product categories that helped them fend off the high grain cost directly connected to enthanol production. They were able to successfully raise their prices this quarter without a loss of sales generated.
I wonder how long it'll last before consumers rebel in this slowing economy?
One writer asks if it makes sense to increase consumer prices over producing ethanol, "which is a suspect alternative fuel that's being used to fight a suspect phenomenon, global warming. Legislators, together with environmentalists, have created global inflation, to fight a problem that some scientists don't think exists. Does that make sense?"
That's the question that needs to be answered. The religious-like devotion to ethanol by corn farmers, some environmentalists and politicians will make it a battle to find the real truth to the ethanol equation.
When people turn it into a "religous" fervor, it's hard to separate fact from fiction, as the emotions run high concerning the "green" god.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Truth and Consequences of Ethanol
As in global warming, much of the press coverage for ethanol has been highly one-sided, and not much of the other side of the story is being told.
I've included Ethanol Fix as part of the Commodity Network in order to give a more thorough view of the subject, and look at the potential positive and negative effects of it upon the world.
It's not the answer to oil that its proponents have been evangelizing about, as enormous problems remain to be solved, if they can be solved at all. Honest people have readily admitted that, while for others who it has almost become a religious crusade, won't admit anything is wrong with it, and make one excuse after another when confronted with the problems ethanol offers and faces.
So we'll do our best to show it in the light it's really in, and keep the demogoguery hopefully to a minimum.
This is too important and costly to just let slip through our fingers without rigorous and honest research and input into the field.
To that end, welcome to Ethanol Fix, which so far in the real world, isn't a reality.
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