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Permalink Reply by Max on March 7, 2011 at 3:53

Sesport,

It looks like a lot of regulations will have to be followed if you want to use CNG or LNG.  If there is a big push to convert to these systems, a lot of people could be trained and put to work for the good of the country. 

 

The fees involved could be revised if a substantial number of individuals or operators decided to get involved in changing to this fuel.  I think there will be a need for local training and that training should be provided by the private sector.  Changing to CNG/LNG would have a bigger ripple effect than what is being reported to encourage a switch.....

Max

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Permalink Reply by Max on March 8, 2011 at 0:00

C-spans Washington Journal had a program segment on REE's and China's move to control the world market of these elements.  China has been working on this for some time now and it's no mistake why they are doing it. 

 

Japan got into a scrape with a Chinese boat captain and China simply cut off the supply of REE's until Japan cried Uncle and released the captain.  Toyota has been scrambling ever since to shore up their supply, but they're almost a day late and a dollar short.

 

The U.S. used to be the world leader in producing these elements, but cost and Environmental issues shifted the production to China.  China doesn't care about the Environment and they have plenty of people to expend for the sake of being number one.  They also realize that profit is not everything when it comes to keeping one's enemies at bay. 

 

The citizens of the U.S. wouldn't tolerate the slash and burn tactics the Chinese use, but when you have an extra billion human beings, you can afford to kill off thousands of them for the good of the mother country.  They're over populated and killing two birds with one stone works out well for their leaders.  We Americans have placed too much value on "life".  Tree huggers and clean water folks have ruined this country, simply put, dirty air and water is how you get to the top of the heap.

 

We do have tons of the stuff, everyday we discard items into landfills that have REE's in them.  The problem, there is no profit in recycling the items.  A cell phone only uses an amount of REE's about the size of the period at the end of this sentence.  Someday we may be mining those landfills, but not yet.  The cost/production ratio has to be met first. 

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Permalink Reply by Max on March 9, 2011 at 4:37

Copied from your link above:

 

State Incentives

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) and Fueling Infrastructure Tax Credit

The state offers an income tax credit worth 50% of the cost of converting a vehicle to operate on an alternative fuel, 50% of the incremental cost of purchasing an original equipment manufacturer AFV, and 50% of the cost of constructing an alternative fueling station. Only vehicles registered in Louisiana may receive the tax credit. Alternatively, a taxpayer may take a tax credit worth 10% of the cost of the motor vehicle or up to $3,000, whichever is less. For the purpose of this incentive, alternative fuels include compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas/propane, biofuel, biodiesel, methanol, ethanol, electricity, and any other fuels that meet or exceed federal clean air standards. (Reference Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:6035)

 

These tax credits along with the Federal tax credits may provide the cushion to establish a viable opportunity for a private enterprise to get underway.  I think in the beginning, a partnership with schools, cities, and government agencies will still be required to have enough vehicles to carry the enterprise until the public moves to NG.

 

It does look like CenterPoint and Atmos are crunching the numbers to get in the door first.  If they do make it there, I think it would be a long time before private demand would get a second chance.

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