E85 Incentives vs Hybrid Power

(Photo: urbanext.uiuc.edu)

These two articles illustrate the difference in the 'greening' of America approaches and the freedom from our addiction to oil.

This from AP via Convenience Store News -

Kansas Offers More E85 Outlets

HUTCHINSON, Kan.--Although only ten gas stations in Kansas are curently offering E85 fuel, more gas stations are now poised to offer the ethanol-gasoline blend, reported the Associated Press.

Officials say three more will come on line in the next 40 days and an additional 20 are possible by the end of the year, according to the report.

"It's starting to take off like wildfire," Robert White, deputy director of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, said of E85 sales. White told AP that demand is rising as more vehicles capable of using the fuel are produced.
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In Kansas, people who buy a vehicle that can use e85 gasoline are qualified for a $750 tax credit if they purchase 500 gallons of fuel in the first two years. State and federal tax credits also cover about 70 percent of the distributors' costs in converting a regular fuel line to an E85 line, AP reported.

Last week, the Kansas Legislature passed a bill lowering the tax on E85 from 24 cents to 17 cents per gallon. That bill awaits Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' signature, AP reported.

"It makes the tax fairer, because with the flat tax for all fuels you were actually paying more per mile when using E85," Sue Schulte, communications director for the Kansas corn growers and grain sorghum producers associations, told AP. "And it encourages the use of E85, too."
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Although some people think this is a better idea.

This excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter -

March 22, 2006
New Lexus Hybrid Sedan Emphasizes Performance Over Efficiency

Are you looking for a high-performance luxury sedan, but hoping to avoid fuel economy in the teens? The new Lexus GS 450h may be your dream car. The sedan's fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 28 mpg on the highway doesn't break any mileage records, but the GS 450h does set a new performance level for hybrids. The rear-wheel-drive sedan accelerates to sixty miles per hour in only 5.2 seconds; according to Autos.com, that places it on par with the Porsche Cayman S.
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This is exciting that an automobile company is producing a HYBRID car that is among the quickest 10% of all production automobiles but I believe this misses the point in aid to the world war on terror.

Isn't it the point to become less addicted to oil based products and thereby reduce the major funding source of radical Islamic fascists?

For every gallon of E85 consumed, a gallon of oil based petrol fuel is not. A fair trade as MAXINE sees it!