So what is the burst pressure on Hemp firehose?

Since this is a nature issue, I'd like to hear what the talking horse at the top of your blog thinks.

Jack-
I just don't know. A politician usually doesn't make hay by going extreme-green, even in this town. If he's in the pocket of developers, industry lobbies, or other special interests, I'd understand. But he's not going to line his campaign coffers with 'Bio'-donations. I'll take the will of individual donors over corporate donors any day.

Bill - Since it involves politics, most of the output is from the other end of the horse.

OK, I just read the link you posted regarding the biofuels conversion. I'm having a hard time understanding why this is a bad thing. Instead of sending our tax dollars to some out-of-state-or-country fleet fueling company, we're spending them with two local businesses.

Oh yeah, then there's the foreign oil vs. domestic fuel thing...

Is doing the right thing a political liability now?

TKrueg-

Exactly.

And at every presentation I have made, I have first said that while I am happy that biodiesel is better for the environment, that is not my motivation. First rate economic development is my motivation. That means good, family wage jobs in Portland and throughout the farming industry in our state.

This industry will place Oregon and Portland in the forefront of a relatively new phenomena in the US. Look soon for an announcement from a major US corporation to build a biodiesel plant here in Portland. A plant that will not only meet our needs in Portland but that will also export this product to other locations throughout the country.

The winners?

Oregon and US farmers along with consumers...particularly Portlanders. That combined with dramatic drops in carbon dioxide emissions

The losers?

Exxon, et al, and countries that export oil to the US.

And do not, because I don't, underestimate their (the petroleum industry) resources to fight Portland's efforts (next Oregon legislative session among other venues they are currently exploring).

Stay tuned.

Let's see, Opie vs. Comcast, Fireman Randy vs. Exxon, Big Pipe vs. the Mount Tabor Neighborhood... hey, how about we invest a little time on making our police force a little less deadly?

Randy, you're saying a bio-diesel plant in Portland will "export this product to other locations throughout the country"?
Sounds a little grandiose. Maybe we should put it next to that windmill factory the city council used to talk about.

"Let's see, Opie vs. Comcast, Fireman Randy vs. Exxon, Big Pipe vs. the Mount Tabor Neighborhood... hey, how about we invest a little time on making our police force a little less deadly?" I am sure they will get right to it, but there is that proclamation to demand the impeachment of the President of the United States before the city council and how can you focus on a little police action when the fate of the free world is in your hands.

I think Commisioner Leonard deserves a pat on the back for supporting biodiesel. Anything that has the potential for creating jobs, lowering pollution and counteracting our reliance on OPEC and the major oil companies is a positive development. If a politician does a good thing, then they should be able brag about it...especially if they intend to run for re-election.

Fireman Randy for Mayor!

The winners?

Oregon and US farmers along with consumers...particularly Portlanders. That combined with dramatic drops in carbon dioxide emissions

Hey! Don't things like trees need carbon dioxide to grow?

Really, if you want to save the planet by reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide, the solution is simple: get out of politics and stop spewing hot air.

Looks like that energy industry-paid PR campaign is paying dividends for them... Max is now repeating their "CO2 is GOOD!" talking point. Somewhere in a soul-less office (complete with 'Successories' motivational posters, no doubt), a Ken Lay-type is shedding a tear of joy.

See, there's something called equilibrium. Of course plants need CO2, but the earth had a relatively stable ratio of Oxygen, Nitrogen, CO2 and other gasses until the industrial revolution. It took thousands of years to get to that balance, but it only took a few decades to push the first domino... Weather pattern changes, rising solar radiation, and countless implications to flora and fauna (directly and indirectly).

So Max, what do you have to offer us other than a lazy and unoriginal pot-shot?

TK, that's an unfair question. Obviously the guy has nothing.

The recent issue of consumer reports (could be last months issue by now) did a report on E85 - the big ethanol alternative. It was more expensive to produce (than what petro costs) and all the cars (all newer models designed to run on regular petro or E85) got WORSE, much worse mileage on E85 than they did on regular gas.

But of course we all know that consumer reports is bias towards the conservatives.

What does E85 have to do with Bio Diseal?

Your right ethanol seems to be mostly just a big scam/give away to corn growers. Bio Diseal seems to have real merit as a legit alternative to oil.

The problem is that the rhetoric over ethanol is simply wrong, wrong, wrong. This is pure political grandstanding, playing to the environmental crowd in Portland.

Ethanol does NOT result in lower emissions because most cars get lower gas mileage with ethanol, and as a result burn MORE fossil fuel in order to go the same distance.

Ethanol will NOT help Portland consumers because they will have to pay MORE for fuel and buy MORE fuel to go the same distance.

The cheapest ethanol fuel right now is produced in Brazil, but we can't use this because we have import tariffs meant to benefit LARGE CORPORATIONS like ADM.

This is the worst kind of social engineering and political posturing in order to seem green, without really thinking through the consequences. Biodisel will develop through market forces. It will come on its own. But mandating it is a foolish policy.