The JJ Brown Perspective

Chuck Zimmerman May 9, 2006

This morning’s opening session featured a speech by J.J. Brown, Legislative Aide for Utah Senator Orrin Hatch. He just finished.

This is a long audio file but I think he gave an excellent talk putting into perspective the oil and energy situation on a worldwide level.

Some points that he made include the following. He wanted to bust the myth that oil company profits and the salaries of their CEO’s is responsible for the high price of gas. It’s just not true. He said that taxing oil company profits and giving that money to tax funded government programs like Medicare won’t help generate a single drop of oil. The real reason behind oil price increases he says is the supply and demand situation. Demand is outpacing supply. Simple economics. In fact, he says that the only way our oil companies can hope to compete and develop new resources is with profits which are a result of demand.

One point he made that I thought helped put things in perspective is how much of our world’s oil supply is owned by governments. Our government owns none by comparison. Our oil companies own a fraction of the current oil supply.

In the short term he thinks alternative fuels will go a long way to help us feed our hunger for fuel. He said that his boss, the Senator, fully supports renewable fuel alternatives and providing assistance to companies and organizations who want to build facilities to develop the various alternatives.

I recommend you listen to his talk: JJ Brown Speech (30 min MP3)

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Audio, Clean Cities Congress, Government

Pedicabbing It

Chuck Zimmerman May 9, 2006

Speaking of alternative fuel vehicles. Here’s another way to get around in Phoenix without too many noxious gas emissions.

These pedicabs are all over. They come rolling in around dinner time to cart you around.

They either charge a fee or just ask for a “donation.”

One of the riders in this cab is Angela Sherick, Director of the Dept. of General Services, Fuel Services and Environmental Compliance Division, City of Los Angeles. Post Update: The other rider is Carlos Benedicto, also from the City of Los Angeles.

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Hybrid People Mover

Chuck Zimmerman May 9, 2006

One of the ways we moved people here at the Congress was with a Hybrid Bus that took us out to the opening reception.

Hey, if you’re going to talk the talk then you have to walk the walk, or in this case ride.

You can learn more about the GM Hybrid Bus’s online.

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Biodiesel, Clean Cities Congress

Green Grand Prix

Cindy Zimmerman May 9, 2006

Increased awareness of domestic fuel alternatives is helping organizers of the 2nd Annual Green Grand Prix to be held in Watkins Glen, NY on June 2.

The Green Grand Prix features a road rally of Hybrid and Alternative Fueled Vehicles held on an 84-mile course following the perimeter of beautiful Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The event is designed to benefit the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association and executive director Carol Fitzgerald says they are getting all kinds of sponsorships and media attention.

“This started out as a regional event to emphasize energy independence and a cleaner environment, it has now started to take on a life of it’s own,” she says. “We have sponsorship from Toyota, Lexus, GM, Honda and Ford. The IRL is sponsoring us and is sending their pace car a Honda Civic Hybrid and are getting back to me on other involvement. The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) just phoned me last week and they are interested in a large involvement and sponsorship. They sponsor the Rahal/Letterman IRL race team and are checking on the availability of the Ethanol Indy Show Car and are sending their new IRL driver Jeff Simmons for an autograph session.”

The Green Grand Prix is the brainchild of Robert Gillespie an area artist who is a hybrid car owner and is very passionate about increasing awareness about the vehicles. Last year’s event was a huge success and very well received.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, Racing

On Our Own For Supper

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2006

This has absolutely nothing to do with alternative fuels unless you consider that this blogger needed “fuel” and got it in the form of some fine Irish stew at Seamus McCaffrey’s. This excellent pub is in my hotel, the Hotel San Carlos.

I am not the only Clean Cites Congress participant partaking of the atmosphere and good food and beverage. I recommend a draft Smithwick’s which I tried here for the first time.

It’s Phoenix and it’s hot but the inside is cool at Seamus McCaffrey’s! We’re on our own this evening so it was time to relax and sample some great food.

Clean Cities Congress

Ethanol Plants in NY, LA and IA

Cindy Zimmerman May 8, 2006

Governor George E. Pataki announced nearly $6 million in State funding to assist Western New York Energy in the development of the first state-of-the-art dry mill ethanol plant in New York State. The $87.4 million facility is to be located on 144 acres in the Town of Shelby, Orleans County.

BioEnergy International, a privately held, biotechnology company headquartered in Norwell, Massachusetts, announced that it has commenced site work on its first biorefinery, a 108 million gallon per year ethanol plant located on land leased from the Lake Providence Port Commission in East Carroll Parish, Louisiana.

VeraSun Energy broke ground on its third ethanol biorefinery in Charles City, Iowa over the weekend. When complete, the biorefinery will produce 110 million gallons of ethanol and 353,000 tons of distillers dried grains (DDGs) annually from 39 million bushels of corn.

Ethanol, Facilities, Production

PG&E Luncheon Keynote Speech

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2006

Our keynote speaker at lunch today was Robert Howard, VP of Corporate Planning and Logistics for Pacific Gas & Electric Company.

I have his speech for you here. I started recording just after he started. He starts out talking about partnerships and what companies like Honda are doing. He says that PG&E’s goal is to be the best clean air fleet in the country.

You can hear his speech here: Robert Howard Speech (11 min MP3)

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What’s New From Honda

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2006

As I mentioned in an earlier post today, American Honda Company unveiled a new alternative fuel vehicle. It’s the 2006 Civic GX NG. Pictured second from the right in this group of Honda representatives is Gunnar Lindstrom. Gunnar emceed today’s awards luncheon and I’ll have more on those later.

I interviewed Gunnar about what’s new from Honda in the alternative fuels arena. Besides the new Civic he says they’ve got lots of plans to continue their support for fuel efficient vehicles.

You can hear my interview with him here: Gunnar Lindstrom Interview (4 min MP3)

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Hearing From The Media

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2006

Right now there are numerous workshops and sessions taking place here at the Congress. I wish I could cover them all. Pictured here is Robert Jay Gordon, President/Co-Publisher of The Auto Channel. He’s taking part in a session with several reporters from various publications.

While I was there they were doing a little Q & A with the participants and it was getting lively.

I want to say a special thank you to Bob because he featured a link to Domestic Fuel on his website in a story they did on the Congress. So please visit his site and learn all about the auto industry.

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Leading The Way

Chuck Zimmerman May 8, 2006

James Boyd is a member of the California Energy Commission and he took the stage to talk about how California is “Leading The Way.”

I got to talk with him just before the morning session kicked off. He says that California is often cast in a leadership role in the quest to move to alternative energy.

He explains some of the things his Commission is doing in light of the Governator’s request for a biofuels plan.

You can hear his speech here: James Boyd Interview (4 min MP3)

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Audio, Clean Cities Congress

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