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8143 messages, Last post on Nov 27, 2009 at 12:10 PM
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Replying to: jkinzel (Jul 02, 2008 6:42 am) See the bolded parts below to see my point being made. But these motorists are running afoul of federal and state government agencies whose jobs are to collect taxes from drivers to pay for road maintenance and make sure that fuels don't pollute the air. Maryland drivers face a $1,000 fine for driving on vegetable fuel if they don't register first with the state and file monthly reports and payments, according to Chuck Ulm, assistant director of motor vehicle taxes in the state comptroller's office. A spokesman for Comptroller Peter Franchot said Franchot generally supports the use of alternative fuels as a way to help end the nation's dependence on foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But, said spokesman Warren Hansen, "At this point, the legislature has not changed the way this fuel is taxed or regulated, so we are just enforcing the laws that are currently on the books." But a tax credit in Maryland would have little effect if driving while green is illegal at the federal level. Catherine C. Milbourn, spokeswoman for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said federal laws prohibit running vehicles on used vegetable oil. "All fuels have to be tested before they can be used in a vehicle, because when something goes into the engine and is burned up, something comes out of the tailpipe. And we want to make sure it doesn't harm the environment in any way," Milbourn said. "Vegetable fuel has not been registered as a motor vehicle fuel." Now, here's what I think SHOULD happen: 1. The EPA should fully test veggie oil fuel and get it "registered as a motor vehicle fuel" so people can use it. 2. The law needs to change to allow it's use. 3. The tax collection process should change to allow veggie oil burners to easily pay thie fair share of fuel taxes and make it EASY on the vehicle owner to pay those taxes. Now - WILL all that happen? It should.
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Replying to: larsb (Jul 02, 2008 6:54 am) You crack me up. It will only happen when hell freezes over. It took the EPA 30+ years to get the sulfur out of diesel fuel. Now you want them to figure out how to tax a gallon of cooking oil from McDonald's. I say break the law and don't tell everyone you are beating the STINKING system in this country. If you have any evidence that used cooking oil is more polluting than D2 I would love to see it. It is just another case of BIG BROTHERISM. If you think the screaming from those that are trying to save on fossil fuel is loud now. Wait until an EV gets offered in this country. I don't think the EPA and the NHTSA will let them be sold. Canada has already blocked the sale of the EV being built in Toronto. How do you tax an EV? Until they figure out how to tax by the mile it will be tough getting any kind of alternatives legalized. |
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Replying to: coontie66 (Jul 02, 2008 4:55 am)  80 mph.
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Gary and ruking, Thought I would pass this along. Sounds like the TDI's are going to be flying off the shelves in CA, as we expected. http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.f09ff51/31222 The Jetta TDI is on its way. Every dealer has already received a demo car - sedan with DSG. I took it home for a day, and I got 40 MPG for mixed city/freeway ride home, 12 miles commute. Right now I am pre-selling my allocation for the next 6 months - I am at the only dealership in SF Bay Area that doesn't markup to cars, so the business is going to be very good!
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Replying to: jkinzel (Jul 02, 2008 8:53 am) 
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Replying to: larsb (Jul 02, 2008 6:54 am) Our Government is losing its status as a “Government” it is now more of a business; it has to make money to survive. Even our military is more of a business than military force. I believe Eisenhower referred to it as the “military industrial complex”. It’s all about the money and you can see that when they feel like they might take a $ loss. People are taking something that would go into a land fill and pollute and using it reduce fuel dependency and the government is screwing them for it because they are not getting their share of the $$. Why is the Government or the oil companies not taking this cooking oil and putting it to use? Everyone would win. The waste would stay out of the landfills, the oil would be used, quality controle ensured and the gov. would get it’s taxes.
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Replying to: jkinzel (Jul 02, 2008 9:19 am) The same reason EVs are not the standard. Just because something is a "better idea" does not mean it will automagically succeed in the broad marketplace. Who is going to collect fryer oil from every fast food place in the country, filter it, and transport it to a pump near you? And who is expected to handle all the veggie oil conversions? You know that could NEVER happen on a large scale. Has it happened in any country in the world yet? First of all, diesel engines and cars have to become a big hit in the USA and take at least 30% of the marketplace. At that point, Joe Public might have enough diesel knowledge to say "veggie oil delivered by the guvmint is a good idea." It's never "all about the money" when it comes to the environmental protection the EPA is chartered to provide us.
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Replying to: jkinzel (Jul 02, 2008 9:19 am)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jul 02, 2008 9:33 am)
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Replying to: larsb (Jul 02, 2008 9:26 am)
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