We Could Build a Coal-to-Gasoline Conversion Plant

Very true mike, that is why governments artificially inflate costs through taxation and regulation, to force us to either reduce, or use other high cost solutions.

Example: High federal and state taxes on gasoline, that contribute zero to the finished product. Forcing us to buy smaller cars, or pay higher taxes. ;)

later,

tom @

What high federal and state taxes on gasoline are those? Gas taxes don't even cover the cost of the highway system.

If gasoline was paying its way, the taxes on it would cover the highway system and at least half of our military budget.

Oil is $75 a barrel. A barrel is 42 gallons. So that's about $2 per gallon for raw oil. And it takes 4 gallons to make a gallon of gasoline.

So gas is $8 a gallon?

That's not really accurate. 1 barrel of crude makes 1/2 a barrel of gasoline but also 1/4 barrel of diesel and a bunch of other stuff.

It COULD make an entire barrel of gasoline the refiner wanted it to. I just turns out that our country uses about 1/2 of oil to make gasoline. Europe uses a much higher ratio of diesel to gasoline. So in Europe

It's not a fixed constant.

They would make less gasoline and more "other stuff".

The ratio of gas to "other stuff" is not fixed. It's flexible depending on demand.

That is not true they already 'crack' to make as much gasoline as they can. If the demand was cut in half and lowers the price why would the even want to make more gasoline when the greater profit is in the carbon base? The idea has always been to get rid of the higher distillates to get to the money makers.

mike hunt

I guess we can assume you are not a chemist, if that is what you believe, right ;)

mike hunt

According to your calculations, I guess it is. ;)

mike hunt

Most plants have complexity ratings. They can vary what they get out. The greater profit isn't necessarily in teh carbon base. So if the price of gas were cut they'd simply make less of it. They wouldn't "burn it off". You just can't be that stupid.

Good point.

The Commerce Department actually had the nerve to propose a special tax on hybrids because they might cause a drop in tax revenues for road maintenance.

It's coming. There will be a tax on energy conserving vehicles.

We cannot allow the dissipation of fuel tax money due to better fuel economy vehicles, therefore we must tax them more.

I'll bet you are not a chemist but if you can figure out way to refine crude to get to the carbon stock, without producing gasoline or other volatiles, I'm sure the oil companies will pay you an awful lot of money to know how you could do it. LOL

mike hunt

That can be easily accomplished, elect more democrats, they are very proficient at figuring ways to increase taxes. Currently the federal and state governments ALL make more per gallon on gasoline than do the oil companies or the retailers. The federal tax is .185c per gallon and the average state tax is .28c a gallon. Some states like California also add their sales tax to gasoline in addition to the motor fuel tax. Some states add to your cost of food by taxing fuels used in farming. Search the Congressional Record and you will see the recent investigation of the oil industry, in by the House Energy Committee, showed the oil companies averaged around 15c a gallon and retailers .05c ;)

mike hunt

That was most likely was placate those Senator and Congressmen that were opposed to giving US taxpayers money to buyers of hybrid vehicles to be passed on to foreign companies that sell hybrids at premium price, that do not themselves pay federal corporate income taxes. ;)

mike hunt

Maybe, "Mike", because you're a troll and a known liar, and you routinely make claims and then refuse to back them up. Nothing you say can be trusted.

Exactly Mike. IF the dimmies get in control they will tax the feel good crowd while giving them high honors for conserving, also a little pat on the rump, LOL.

For me increased gas prices don't have much of an impact because I don't drive that much any more. I either walk or ride a bike for short trips, it's much more healthy anyway. BTW, if the socialists do gain control, we'll have absolutely nothing to worry about. They will build huge amounts of condominiums and force those of us who have our own home and property out and into condos. This, the socialists say will be more efficient and tax friendly, for them. LOL.

It is your contention that needs supporting. Yet you fail to do so.

Jeff

You are the one who has a problem with what I posted and you have yet to post any source that leads you to believe what I posted was not correct. I have not said you are wrong, I said I'm willing to look at where you got your information, I'm still waiting for you to show me were my source was wrong. One can only assume that apparently you are not able to do so ;)

mike hunt

Will you two read this, it was posted the toher day but you are to busy yelling at each other...

This should help....

The United States and Russia, along with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), accounted for 61 percent of the total crude

oil produced in the world in 2004. The United States accounted for 7.4 percent of the world's total 2004 crude oil production, and Russia 12 percent. Because uses for crude oil in its natural state are limited, almost all crude oil is processed into finished petroleum products at a

refinery. The refining process usually involves (1) distillation, or separation of the hydrocarbons that make up crude oil so that the heavier products, such as asphalt, are separated from the lighter products, like kerosene; (2) conversion, or cracking of the molecules to allow the refiner to squeeze a higher percentage of light products, such as gasoline, from each barrel of oil; and (3) treatment, or enhancement of the quality of the product which could entail removing sulfur from such fuels as kerosene, gasoline, and heating oils. The addition of blending components to gasoline is also a part of this process.

Crude oil is measured in barrels. A barrel of 42-U.S. gallons of crude oil yields slightly more than 44 gallons of petroleum products. This "process gain" of volume is due to a reduction in the density during the refining process. In 2004, one barrel of crude oil, when refined, yielded 19.7 gallons of finished motor gasoline, as well as smaller quantities of many other petroleum products

Gerald