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| Cliff Harris |
Weather Gems
Weather and energy usage are closely tied together. The U.S. used a whopping 20 percent less heating oil and natural gas during January 2006 thanks to the warmest such 31-day period in recorded history. We also saw all-time record January warmth in the Inland Empire.
The nation's January 2006 mean/average temperature was a Marchlike 39.5 degrees Fahrenheit compared to the normal of 33.8 degrees and the previous warmest reading of 37.3 degrees in January of 1953. The average family saved nearly $120 on their heating bill.
But, gasoline costs have remained "sky high." Many subscribers to the Coeur d'Alene Press have asked me this question:
"Why aren't we seeing more ETHANOL production in this country, especially with a bumper 2005 corn crop and corn prices still hovering near 30-year lows that have bankrupted many additional farmers in recent months across the country."
Here are some answers:
According to an article written by the editorial director of the Delta Farm Press, Hembree Brandon, dated January 20, 2006;
"In the last decade, U.S. auto manufacturers have built and sold literally MILLIONS of vehicles that have the 'flex-fuel' capabilities to burn not only regular gasoline, but also ethanol-gasoline combination fuels. However, most people who own these vehicles don't even know that they can easily burn ethanol, because the information is buried in an inconspicuous spot in their owner's manual. Even if they did know, though, there are very few places to buy the stuff, except in the Midwest where most of the ethanol is produced."
Brandon went on to say; "Most states with major metropolitan centers of 50,000 or more people do not even have a single station selling E-85 ethanol. In the entire country less than 500 out of 176,000 stations sell ethanol." (Try finding it in Coeur d'Alene!)
Once again, in quoting Mr. Brandon; "What's WRONG with this picture? The United States has the capability to produce many millions more gallons of ethanol than the 4 billion currently being manufactured. And, all auto makers, domestic and foreign, can crank out flex-fuel vehicles with no sweat (and usually at no additional cost)."
Mr. Brandon went on to add; "In Brazil, where gasoline prices are in the neighborhood of $4-per-gallon, owners of flex-fuel cars can fill their tanks for about half that amount.
Brazil, brought to its knees by the Arab Oil Embargo of the mid-1970s, did what no other country in the world has done so dramatically --- It MANDATED development of an ethanol industry and all types of vehicles that would run on biofuels."
Today, Brazil has nearly 30,000 flex-fuel stations. More than 40 percent of all the fuel used by Brazilian motorists is now ethanol or even PURE ALCOHOL, no gasoline at all! Within just a few short years, Brazil expects to be self-
sufficient in fuel production, including BIODIESEL.
I should mention that SUGAR and SOYBEAN producers, particularly the sugar people, have greatly benefitted from soaring Brazilian biofuel production. Sugar has TRIPLED in price and still the cost of ethanol is only about 60 percent of gasoline in the country.
We need to use ALL THE EXTRA U.S. CORN FOR ETHANOL, not switchgrass or wood chips. We need to get on board the "biofuel train," NOW!!
NORTH IDAHO 90-DAY WEATHER OUTLOOK
January may have been the WARMEST and one of the WETTEST such periods in our recorded weather history dating back to at least 1895, but it's my prediction that a MAJOR PATTERN CHANGE is already leading us back to the COLDER and, perhaps, SNOWIER end of the meteorological scale that we saw early in the season in late November and the first three weeks of December, when the mercury never once topped the freezing mark for an all-time autumn record of 23 straight days.
If I'm right, natural gas and heating oil prices will soar again after 'crashing' this week pricewise in New York City and elsewhere.
Winter is not over yet...not by a long shot!!! More next week. Happy Valentine's Day.
