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Curt Rosengren ~ Passion Catalyst TM "Love your work. Change your world." |
Let's say you've bought an old diesel Mercedes so you can
run it on biofuels. And let's say you feel so good about it that you slap a
bumper sticker on your car that says, "Powered by 100% vegetable oil."
Now let's say your bumper sticker gets noticed by state Department of Revenue inspectors
who are inspecting RVs for illegal (i.e., untaxed) fuel.
What do your efforts to use alternative fuels net you? A big fat fine.
So last fall [Bob Teixeira]
spent $1,200 to convert his 1981 diesel Mercedes to run on vegetable oil. He
bought soybean oil in 5-gallon jugs at Costco, spending about 30 percent more
than diesel would cost.
His reward, from a state that heavily promotes alternative fuels: a $1,000 fine last month for not paying motor fuel taxes.
He's been told to expect another $1,000 fine from the
federal government.
And to legally use veggie oil, state officials told him,
he would have to first post a $2,500 bond.
On the one hand, I look at this and think that's completely out of whack. Talk about a disincentive to convert to alternative fuels. On the other hand, I look at it and think, well, fuel is fuel. Why should alternative fuels be exempt?
What do you think? Should alternative fuels be taxed? Or should the government encourage their use by letting it slide?
[via TreeHugger]
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Great article. It just goes to show that most govenments seem to talk a good talk, however there is a need for them to back it up, now.
My feeling is they should be supporting alternative fuel usage and manufacture by giving a tax incentive.
Posted by: Malc | June 21, 2007 at 05:13 AM
The problem is that the tax is on the fuel and not the milage. Some states are talking about going that route as hybrids and electric vehicles will become the vehicles of choice when gas prices remain high. Watch people turning their odometers back to avoid taxes.
Posted by: metroplexual | June 27, 2007 at 08:06 AM
There's also the notion here that the government shouldn't be taxing individuals for (legally) buying fuels. If they want to tax the use of biofuels, they should tax the distributor or the manufacturer (this is also the more efficient way of taxing). But there is a broader notion here. Generally, the government taxes things that it wants to curtail use of (cigarettes) and offers a subsidy or rebate for things they want to encourage (hybrid car purchases). So taxing an individual (or other entity) for using an alternative fuel would be counterproductive to their alternative fuels initiatives and would warrant some political upheaval.
Power to the People....
Posted by: Doug | June 27, 2007 at 09:49 PM
Not an easy task for Government world wide, they are all pushing to have a better eco World but they all would like to keep hi rate tax... Armand Rousso.
Posted by: Armand rousso | July 02, 2007 at 09:45 AM
Armand Rousso, I am with you, Government is for Green investment but would like to keep hi rate tax !
Posted by: garry | July 09, 2007 at 02:45 PM
I am reading this morning that Bio Fuels create twice the greenhouse gases as Fossil Fuels.
Does anyone have more data on this?
Thanks!
Posted by: Ames Tiedeman | September 24, 2007 at 08:59 AM
Look what is on the Moon? Can this be our energy future?
Look at this quote.
When helium-3 combines with deuterium (an isotope of hydrogen) the fusion reaction proceeds at a very high temperature and it can produce awesome amounts of energy.
"Just 25 tonnes of helium, which can be transported on a space shuttle, is enough to provide electricity for the US for one full year."
This is why China wants to go to the moon by 2017. We are going back in 2020. We need to get there faster. We should have a national goal of 2013, 5 years
Posted by: Ames Tiedeman | October 06, 2007 at 05:23 AM
Government should have tax incentative for using alternative fuel, as long as it doesn't cause as much pottution as fossul fuel does, methenol uses corn, which pollutes as well..their is a good site on fuel consumption..inroutes.com
Posted by: Bob(Savings)Rogers | February 20, 2008 at 07:00 PM
Here 's some information on run your car on water by using water as fuel, laugh at rising gas costs, and improve your car gas mileage.
NASA Verifies Run Your Car on Water Technology Works. The document titled, “EMISSIONS AND TOTAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF A MULTICYLINDER PISTON ENGINE RUNNING ON GASOLINE AND A HYDROGEN-GASOLINE MIXTURE” shows how adding small amounts of hydrogen to a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine will help the engine run leaner and reduce emissions.
Posted by: Run Your Car On Water | November 21, 2008 at 09:14 AM