The idea of Green Cars can now be realized without affecting the supply chain of foodstocks for biofuels. Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal showed the way when he signed below the dotted line to make Advanced Biofuel Industry Development Initiative (HB-1270) effective for the first time in the US. The move has been hailed as more important than the development of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, fuel cells, hydrogen production, and biofuel applications.
The importance of this enactment can be better realized if one remembers the preliminary tests conducted in Europe which proved that the use of hydrous ethanol saves almost ten to forty-five percent energy during processing as it eliminates the need for the hydrous-to-anhydrous dehydration processing step and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The policy paper of (HB-1270) states that the use of hydrous ethanol blends of E10, E20, E30 and E85 in motor vehicles specifically selected for test purposes will be permitted on a trial basis until January 1, 2012. During this period, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Division of Weights & Measures will monitor the performance of the motor vehicles.
To give a much needed boost to the ethanol industry in the state by supporting high yielding non-corn crops, the initiative stresses the need to utilize high yielding, water-efficient sweet sorghum. Leading the way that foodgrain suppliers of the world are not affected by the US biofuel programmes, the new enactment provides for the use of feedstock
* derived solely from Louisiana harvested crops
* capable of an annual yield of at least 600 gallons of ethanol per acre (~5600 liters per hectare);
* requiring no more than one-half of the water required to grow corn;
* requiring no more than one-third of the nitrogen required to grow corn, thereby reducing the risk of contamination of the waters of the state; and
* requiring no more than one-half of the energy necessary to convert corn into ethanol.
It says that advanced biofuel supply and demand shall be expanded beyond the 10% blend market by blending fuel-grade anhydrous ethanol with gasoline at the gas station pump. Variable blending pumps, directly installed and operated at local gas stations by a qualified small advanced biofuel manufacturing facility. No gainsaying the fact that it wouldhelp develop a statewide advanced biofuel industry.
The part of this legislation that most amuses the green activists is the one that provides for a governmental body, state educational institution, or instrumentality of the state that performs essential governmental functions on a statewide or local basis is entitled to purchase E20, E30 or E85 advanced biofuel at a price equal to fifteen percent (15%) less per gallon than the price of unleaded gasoline for use in any motor vehicle. This promises to open up a new path to economic benefits too.
Source :Biopact