07/15/2008 Gas Prices Got You Down? Don't Get Mad...Get Ethanol

Businesses and Consumers Discover That Virtually All Fuel-Injected Cars Can     Run on E-50 Without Conversion. IIEA Member Postings Identify Which   Unmodified Cars Can Run Even Higher Blends as People Switch from Gas to                                   Ethanol      SANTA CRUZ, Calif., July 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Institute for Ecological Agriculture, (IIEA) announced today that it is receiving continual reports from business and consumer members across the country that are successfully converting from gas to Ethanol (and various blends such as E85) as a preferred alternative to paying unprecedented gas prices and for combating climate change concerns.      According to David Arkin, AIA, of Arkin Tilt Architects, a LEED accredited architect in Albany, CA, "Ethanol can be part of one's path to a carbon neutral lifestyle. It costs less than gasoline, is readily available, and -- when grown and produced properly -- can help combat climate change through both its clean emissions and the potential to sequester carbon. Here in Northern California we run on locally produced ethanol distilled from waste products, through our membership in the Green Energy Network (GEN)."      Recently David and his wife and partner Anni Tilt converted their 2000 Audi A4 1.8 Turbo Wagon to run on Ethanol, (the basic process cost $400.00 for parts and labor, though they opted to add a KoldBan ether start kit for an additional $800 in order to start and run on E98). Opting to drive instead of fly to Wisconsin for David's parents' anniversary, the 5 travelers (plus dog and rooftop cargo box) made the trip running on a blend of Ethanol and gas. "We chose to blend gasoline with the Ethanol to maintain the best mileage performance. Reviewing the trip we noted our average mileage was in the high 20s, with an average cost of around $3.75 per gallon of fuel (we did find E85 for as low as $2.85 a gallon along the way). Once east of the Rockies we had no trouble locating stations selling Ethanol. Had Permaculture-based Ethanol been available we'd have done the whole trip on E85 or E98."      Like David Arkin, Michael A. Shapiro, (Owner/Operator of Ecab a Blue Cab Assoc member in Chicago, IL.) became very concerned about the impact gas was having on the environment as well as his business operating costs. "Every time my cars go to the pump I'm losing money," Mr. Shapiro stated. "Though David Blume tells us that any car can be converted to run E50 or E85 for $50-$400, I decided to experiment with hybrid fuel blends rather than trade in my fleet of cabs for new cars or undergo a costly modification. To my great delight (and as David Blume had stated) I found that I could run my cars on E50 and then after a short time increase it to E85 (providing better mileage, burning cleaner and costing me far less per gallon than gasoline) with no conversion required at all."      Along with thousands of other converts to clean renewable fuels, Michael and David have attended David Blume's Ethanol Conversion and Production talks and have bought copies of the renewable energy expert and author's new book Alcohol Can Be A Gas (ACBAG) (http://www.alcoholcanbeagas.com) as a resource and guide for their energy transformation.      Consumers and Businesses Switch to Ethanol      "David provides fantastic guidance and his insights and information make such a compelling case for Ethanol, I was willing to test it," Mr. Shapiro continued. "I moved my fleet to E85 and for a while I was able to run my cabs on $2.99 - $3.49 E-85 while gas was running $4.25. Fuel prices keep changing, but I estimate I will be saving my company around $3,600.00 a year, per cab running Ethanol and the whole time I will be reducing my fleet's carbon footprint, which is one of my main goals."      During a recent test Mr. Shapiro documented that moving several of his cars back to gas caused the cars to run hotter, get worse mileage and the auto engine warning lights came on. "As soon as I blended Ethanol back into the mix, the engines cooled, quieted and the lights went off. David told me that in many cars newer than 2000 there is intelligence in the engine to discern fuel type and to adjust burn-throughput automatically. He is right. I haven't needed any mechanical assistance to run blended fuels or to optimize performance," he concluded.      Mr. Arkin added, "David Blume's book is an incredible source of experience, information and inspiration. As one who designs alternative buildings, I have a healthy skepticism and a need to thoroughly research things before trying them. ACBAG is one of the most comprehensive resources I've found for complete and accurate information. From the outset I accepted that I was using my car as a guinea pig of sorts, and was responsible for any consequences. David, his book, and (Blume's student) Damon Knutson of GEN all helped make my conversion possible, and I couldn't have done this without them."      "If everyone used 30% ethanol in their unmodified cars we would be able to cease buying any oil from the Middle East, ending our dependence, our crushing military expenditures there, and our National Guard could be brought home from Iraq," said David Blume. "Converting completely to US made ethanol would make our economy literally bombproof to the explosive price increases we can expect oil to sustain as it runs out. The icing on this cake is that alcohol can be produced for less than $1.50 a gallon by small scale entrepreneurs or even individuals from a wide variety of crops or waste products we describe in our book. I am showing groups and organizations all over the world that making alcohol is simple, cost effective and good for the environment. As a result every day contractors, farmers, consumers, entrepreneurs, fleet owners, and even governments are calling and writing to tell us about their successes converting from fossil fuels."      About David Blume:      Mr. Blume will be featured on a special 3 hour interview on Coast to Coast Radio with George Noory this Thursday 7/17 and will be speaking at the following coming conferences and events:      EORenew/SolWest Fair - July 25, 26, 27 - Canyon City, OR      SolFest - August 16 - 17 - Hopland, CA      * The University of Guadalajara, Mexico - August 23rd conference plenary speaker      Renewable Energy Roundup Sept 13 - 14 Carson City, NV.      MidAtlantic Renewable Energy Association Conference - September 19-21 - Kutztown, PA      For more information contact:      Tom Harvey - theCommunications - (530) 257-3533