Alternative fuel ideas are being batted around throughout the United States and the rest of the world that is dependent upon fossil fuels.  The exception to that statement is that there are a few countries – mainly in the Middle East – that are sitting pretty atop most of the oil being produced.

The state of Pennsylvania has created a $5.3 million annual grant program to help accelerate the production and use of biofuels. The biofuels would be produced in the state and diminish the use of and dependence upon foreign oil.

“Pennsylvania’s alternative energy industry continues to grow through the development and deployment of a new generation of power sources and fuels and smart energy policies,” said acting Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger about Pennsylvania’s Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program. “Alternative fuels made from Pennsylvania’s crops are cleaner and invest millions of dollars into our economy by supporting our rural, agriculture-based communities.”

Since July, developers of fuel in Pennsylvania are required to put a percentage of ethanol or biodiesel into every gallon of gasoline…

Most of the auto manufacturers throughout the world are working feverishly to create cars that are smaller, more efficient and run on alternatives to fossil fuels.  There are now vehicles that run on hybrid engines, vehicles that run on biofuels, solar powered vehicles and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Of course, many of these vehicles are still in the experimental stage, with scientists, researchers and auto manufacturers looking closely at them – literally microscopically – to determine flaws and discover ways to improve the vehicles.

BMW is also participating in world wide efforts to create cars powered by alternative types of energy.  BMW is known for excellent automobiles and plans to use their high technology to produce a Mini that will live up to BMW’s standards.  “By introducing the Mini E, the BMW Group is underscoring the resolve with which it works towards reducing energy consumption and emissions in road traffic,” the company said.  BMW, as well as potential customers await the introduction the Mini E at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2008.

There is a…

Alternative Fuel Technology, LLC in Ontario, Canada has come up with a discovery that can help change vehicles that run on diesel fuel into vehicles that don’t pollute (or pollute very little).  Alternative Fuel Technology is an organization specializing in research and development.  They are currently designing and developing prototype manufacturing of fuel systems that will be able to use a new alternative fuel called dimethyl ether (DME).  

Alternative Fuel Technology has developed fuel injector systems for vehicles that run on DME.  They also provide DME fuel systems  for testing and research. 

An exceptional attribute of these systems is that they are low cost and efficient, and they can be retrofitted to work with most diesel engines.  The diesel engines that are equipped and retrofitted can then run on the new fuel, DME, which will burn cleaner, lower NOx emissions, eliminate smoke emissions such as soot particulates and eliminate exhaust odor. 

DME is considered by many to be the ultimate bio-fuel because of the attributes we have already discussed.  It is cheaper, better for the…

Good question, and so far, the answer is “NO!”  There are all sorts of questions about this issue and they all lead to trying to figure out what is going to happen with the airlines.  Many of us thought that when the fuel crisis eased a bit, we might be able to run off on a short, quick vacation because it would be affordable for a minute or two.  Those of us who thought that were apparently wrong.

According to numerous statements by numerous airlines in answer to all the questions about what will happen to fares in the wake of fuel prices that are falling, the airlines cannot afford to lower fares.

Here’s how it theoretically works.  David Castelveter spokesman for the Air Transport Association has explained that because the fuel prices were so high and kept the airline companies way over budget most of this year up until a few weeks ago, the airlines are still struggling to catch up because they are still in the hole.

Castelveter stated that “you don’t recover…

As we look at the rush toward finding the best alternative fuels and the best ways to distribute them and provide choices for the American people and people in countries around the world, some things that may not be as obvious to us besides creating independence from fossil fuels are the additional benefits of this quest.

Of course, alternative fuel will cut or eliminate our dependence on foreign oil.  We also know that there are benefits to the environment for various reasons, especially lower or no emissions and more self-containment.

In addition, there are plusses for the economy and employment, which are inextricably linked.  With the economy in the shape it is in, some good news about economical improvement and more jobs is music to the ears of politicians and just plain everyday people.

Before we get too over-the-top excited, it is important to remember that this is not an overnight fix.  Though there are many organizations, corporations, cities, states and the federal government working diligently to find ways to develop fuel alternatives and some…

With the world looking for alternative energy and automobiles that can get us where we want to go without using fossil fuels and adding to the pollutions problems, hybrid cars can be a good alternative to the cars most people are driving now.

One of the main drawbacks or the hybrid cars has been their batteries.  The typical battery – a lead acid battery – can store a great amount of energy, however there are also problems associated with them.  When they are charged and discharged repeatedly, as in turning on and off a car engine, the battery gradually fills with deposits of chemicals, which coat the inside of the battery.  These deposits make the battery wear out much faster.

Researchers have been looking for a battery that will not have those problems, and a company named CSIRO out of Australia has created the Ultra Battery.  The Ultra Battery combines a lead acid battery with a supercapacitor.  The Ultra Battery will store as much energy as a regular lead acid battery without the battery plate…

The Paris Auto Show is one of the most extravagant in the world.  It features the newest, the latest and the trendiest cars available.  This year’s show, which is open right now, has blended two trends together for the good of the auto-buying public and for the sake of the environment.

The trend toward keeping the planet green and helping to do it by using small efficient cars has been combined at the Paris Auto Show, in many cases through the premiere of electric cars.  It has become apparent that the economy will be headed in the “green” direction – keeping the earth green, and by doing so by the use of electric cars; it should keep some green in both automakers and consumers’ pockets.

All of a sudden everyone is interested in electric cars – even the United States.  There are a number of reasons for this, but the main one is the fuel crisis and its impact on economics.  Last month only 1 million cars were sold in the United States.  That’s a…

It seems like just a few weeks ago there was loud groaning about how high fuel prices had gotten and how there was no end in sight.  Everyone from the public to lawmakers to economists was worried and even panicking.

Here we are a few weeks later and the situation has been going the opposite way.  The predictions were that the price of fuel would continue to rise as economic woes continued to get worse.  While forecasters were fanning the flames of fear, economists and others started warning that the fuel crisis and the economic crisis are linked – not just locally – but also globally. 

The issue now is that with stocks tumbling, real estate and mortgages falling apart and banks having to be rescued on a daily basis, it is impossible for oil prices to be separated out of the mix.

In the past week alone, the cost of crude per barrel has fallen over $6.00, to under $87.00.  In a period when gasoline was up over $4 per gallon a month or…

Atlanta is one of the large, solid business centers in the United States.  It is also in a very difficult situation when it comes to fuel for commuters – there is a dire shortage.  It’s not just that prices are high – it’s that people are having a hard time finding gasoline.  Commuters are often traveling 10 to 20 miles out of their way to find a gas station that has fuel, then waiting in line for 30 to 60 minutes to be able to fill their tanks.

Employers have taken note and are trying to use some creative ideas when it comes to dealing with the commute – or non commute – and getting the work done.

One way that employers are dealing with the situation is by doing two things that other cities and some businesses in Atlanta had already been doing as the fuel crisis has been increasing.  Some businesses have gone to a 4 day, 10 hour per day work week, eliminating one day of commuting which saves gas and money…

Hurricanes are usually bad news to homeowners and businesses in their paths.  We have seen the overwhelming results – especially since hurricane Andrew did so much damage in the early 1990’s.  Since then, it seems that there have been more hurricanes of greater magnitude leaving greater destruction in their wake. 

The folks that live in the southeastern United States have been hit with multiple hurricanes one after the other and have had a difficult time just beginning to try to recover.  Now, on top of the grueling recovery, there is a severe fuel shortage that has hit the area as well. 

Because oil production had to be temporarily halted due to the storms, many areas in the southeast are playing catch up.  In Sandy Springs, GA, a mail carrier went twelve miles out of his way to get to a gas station that had gasoline to sell.  When he got to the station, he had to wait in line for 40 minutes to be able to get to the pump and purchase gas for his…