Randy - I have been impressed with your leadership of the Portland Water Bureau. Thank you for protecting our right to continue drinking pure water from our pristine mountain watershed - our birthright as Portlanders. Challenging the EPA rule that would require us to install expensive treatment facilities - something that is clearly an unwarranted expense, and could actually degrade the quality and safety of our drinking water, was a courageous move. I appreciate the efforts the Water Bureau has made over the past year to educate the public about the truly unique and valuable drinking water supply that Portland is blessed with. Keep up the good work!

Frank- I really appreciate your kind words.

Randy - Nolan and I had a '74 Ghia convertible too. I bought it in '78 or '79 in the original ugly red/orange and then in the early '90's Nolan had it done over in a metallic ice blue. It went to a new home when we needed kid-friendly car, but can still be seen around town. You're right - it's a classic design. regards Mark

I catch myelf eyeing every Ghia I see, Mark, especially the convertibles. Its a shame you guys had to let yours go.

Randy

What do you think of the Apollo Project and do you think there is enough support around the State to enact somthing similiar if it fails to reach the ballot?

"Simply put, it’s about how ALL Oregonians—businesses, young people, workers, farmers, ranchers, conservationists and forward-thinking public officials—can take action now to ensure that Oregon stays ahead in the economic race to create clean energy jobs from Portland to Pendleton while also taking steps to help Oregon be free from foreign oil."

Wow. I am embarrassed to say, T, that I was not aware of this project.

I took the above statement from the first page of Apollo's web page. It captures exactly my philosophy and, I am happy to report, my efforts during this current budget.

I have advocated for and the Mayor's budget reflects a new, $1 million allocation to Portland's Office of Sustainable Development for the specific purpose of developing a business relationship with Eastern Oregon farmers and Portland to grow, process and use biodiesel fuel in Portland.

I have recently ordered all vehicles purchased from this point forward to only be diesel powered vehicles in both the Water Bureau and Bureau of Development Services.

Count on me to help any way I am asked to support the Apollo Project.

And thank you for the question.

Randy,

I've decided to finally come out of the closet and tell you I love you, man!

Had a '67 Karmen Ghia, pumpkin orange. The green one would fit the "very cool" label only if it were powered by biodiesel.

Randy Leonard, Apr 22,11:14:46 I have advocated for and the Mayor's budget reflects a new, $1 million allocation to Portland's Office of Sustainable Development JK:WOW, you finally, fully funded the schools, police and fire departments. Just kidding, I’ll bet you’re you taking more money from them to fund this scheme, right?

Randy Leonard, Apr 22,11:14:46 AM for the specific purpose of developing a business relationship with Eastern Oregon farmers and Portland to grow, process and use biodiesel fuel in Portland. JK: Randy, every time you guys try to play businessperson, you end up costing the city millions: PGE Park, Memorial Coliseum, Convention center, Redevelopment of the Pearl, the Sowhat (of which the city is putting up around 12-20% of the money and getting ZERO equity - great deal!!) Can’t you guys just run the bureaus like the charter says? BTW is the water bureau computer fully functional yet?

Randy Leonard, Apr 22,11:14:46 AM I have recently ordered all vehicles purchased from this point forward to only be diesel powered vehicles in both the Water Bureau and Bureau of Development Services. JK:Great idea. Didn’t I read somewhere the gov’s clean car scheme will outlaw diesels?

Randy Leonard, Apr 22,11:14:46 AMCount on me to help any way I am asked to support the Apollo Project. JK: Hopefully, only on your own time and your own money. The city has no business trying to save the world from every chicken little panic that periodically sweep through society. Remember, just a few years back the experts were warning about the upcoming ICE AGE. See these articles from Harpers, Newsweek and Discover.

Thanks JK

Lars- Only you and your true believers think you have been in a closet.

Now that you are self aware, welcome into the real world.

First, slip into some very tight and very skimpy body clothes, stand outside of your Vancouver home barefoot with "The Village People" blasting out their famous hit "YMCA" in the background as you scream to the top of your lungs, for all to hear;

"I know who I am. This is who I am. And damn it, I love another Man and I am proud of it. And if you don't like it...well...too bad for you."

I promise, if you do that, your ratings will sky rocket...well, for a while anyway.

Jim- Apparently the tram, urban renewal areas and tax abatements have driven you to the brink of suicidal depression.

Look up, Man. The efforts to create a biodiesel market will replace foreign imported oil with home grown pure Oregon fuel. New technology in diesel engines produce 50 plus miles per gallon.

And thanks for asking about the new computer billing system.

We switched it on a couple of weeks ago and she's purring like a new born kitten...kicking out accurate bills and delinquent account notices like nobody's business. It is also allowing us to implement the storm water discount program.

Its time to pull back the curtains, let in the light and look ahead, Jim. The future is bright with opportunity given the sky rocketing price of a barrel of oil. We are going to seize this opportunity to divorce ourselves from the oil that some in our country are willing to send our men and women into war to secure.

We need only establish the mutually beneficial economic relationship between us consumers and the natural producers of our fuel of the future...eastern Oregon farmers.

Now put on some very tight and very skimpy underwear, stand outside of your Vancouver home and scream to the top of your lungs, for all to hear; "I know who I am. This is who I am. And damn it, I love another Man and I am proud of it. And if you don't like it...well...too bad for you."

Yes, I will admit, I would listen to Lars if this was happening live on his show, I have not tuned into the SNN (Saxton News Network) since Lars was "Live from Seaside".

Jim K

I for one am glad that the City of Portland wishes to invest tax dollars in Oregon Citizens, rather than finance the armies that are fighting our men and women overseas.

What side of the "Global War On Terror" are you on here?

I know what side I am on....

Randy Leonard, Apr 23,1:15:58 AM Apparently the tram, urban renewal areas and tax abatements have driven you to the brink of suicidal depression. JK: Why are you so angery?

Randy Leonard, Apr 23,1:15:58 AM Look up, Man. The efforts to create a biodiesel market will replace foreign imported oil with home grown pure Oregon fuel. New technology in diesel engines produce 50 plus miles per gallon. JK: Since you support this, I assume that you can tell me how many BTUs of oil energy is consumed in the production of a gallon of bio-diesel. I ask because some sources claim a net increase in oil consumption to produce biodiesel and you have surely looked very carefully and thoroughly at this aspect before endorsing it. Please share this number with us.

Also, please tell us how many square miles of land would be required to produce biofuels equal to our current imported oil energy.

Randy Leonard, Apr 23,1:15:58 AM Its time to pull back the curtains, let in the light and look ahead, Jim. The future is bright with opportunity given the sky rocketing price of a barrel of oil. JK: Right on. The price is finally getting high enough to bring more supply - we are already seeing more oil from tar sands, might soon see oil from coal. Classic supply and demand at work.

As far as I can tell, somewhere around $50-60 per barrel makes coal conversion economically practical (based on research from the 70's), so hopefully we will start seeing some domestic supply from this source too. If the price gets high enough we can even start pulling carbon out of CO2 in the air and H2 from water, mash them together and get gasolene (or at least octane and above). That will finally give us a limitless supply of fuel without the middle east and without global warming. (Of course the chicken littles, who seem to infest Oregon in disproportionally large numbers, will have to create a new panic to keep their government dollars flowing.)

The only downside is that high prices, in the short run, will hurt low income people and drive a few more people to Tri-Met which will cause Tri-Met to LOSE EVEN MORE money, possibly requiring a tax increase.

Randy Leonard, Apr 23,1:15:58 AM We are going to seize this opportunity to divorce ourselves from the oil that some in our country are willing to send our men and women into war to secure. JK: Are you ignoring attacks on our homeland?

Randy Leonard, Apr 23,1:15:58 AM We need only establish the mutually beneficial economic relationship between us consumers and the natural producers of our fuel of the future...eastern Oregon farmers. JK: Why is that a city government function while we are short of money for police, fire and schools. Which is more important Randy - educating our children or doing what the free market is already doing? (You did notice that bio diesel is currently being sold through normal petroleum supply chains, didn’t you.)

Thanks JK

I assume that you can tell me how many BTUs of oil energy is consumed in the production of a gallon of bio-diesel. I ask because some sources claim a net increase in oil consumption to produce biodiesel.

I think it is on you to provide the sources, since Randy could come back with 1000's sources that say EROEI for bio-diesel is around 2 for canola and mustard seed (If BDiesel is the only product) and closer to 5.5 if the feed is used for feedstock. This data is all over the place if one were to look. BTW there is no oil needed to produce Bdiesel, just the natural gas for nitrogen.

If the price gets high enough we can even start pulling carbon out of CO2 in the air and H2 from water, mash them together and get gasolene (or at least octane and above).

Good luck with the "mashing", can I ask where the energy will come for the "mashing", since H2O and Co2 are not energy sources, they are "batteries".

I had a sweet silver '69 Ghia that succumbed to East Coast disease. While attempting to change a tire, the jack raised while the body stayed on the ground. Damn road salt!!

Although tar sands [I have investments in Canadian firms] and biodiesel can provide much more energy than they do presently, neither is going to allow life-as-we-know-it to continue. Both require hefty energy input to bring to market, and both create major environmental problems.

There is another important constraint on biofuel production. As petrofertilizer becomes uneconomical, larger areas will be needed for food production. Shall we stop eating in order to grow crops for fuel conversion? I think not.

We might believe that a beloved sports car could be kept in the garage to drive only on special occasions, but the high energy requirements of road building mean there will be few paved miles to travel and few curves smooth enough to let the rear break loose on without ending up in the weeds.

Jim-

There is an excellent article in the current edition (May 2006) of Popular Mechanics entitled "The Truth About Bio Fuels". I went to the site but the article is not up yet. It should be available at any local store that sells Popular Mechanics.

There is a comparative analysis done of E85/Ethanaol (85% Ethanol and 15% Gasoline), M85/Methanol, B100 Biodiesel, Compressed Natural Gas, Electricity and Hydrogen Fuel Cell.

The article also addresses your question about the number of BTU's produced by each of the alternate fuels discussed compared to gasoline.

In my opinion, the huge advantage goes to biodiesel because it produces miles per gallon far superior to any other product and thus requires less acreage to produce the crop that would yield more miles per gallon than conventional gasoline technology.

The advantage of developing biodiesel over searching for new deposits of crude oil as you suggest is that eventually, inevitablly, oil will be gone. It is not reproducing itself. Biodiesel, on the other hand, is self sustainable, i.e., it is derived from an agricultural crop that provides assurance it can be used as a fuel as long as the earth will sustain agriculture. It also has less of an impact on the environment than do hydrocarbon based fuels.

I do think it is the responsiblility of government to represent the best interests of the working class of this country. To me, that means making sure products we depend on are produced in as competitive and fair a market as is possible in a free market economy. In my view, Mobile, Exxon and the other gasoline producers are far from models of a true supply and demand enterprise. In short, I believe they are economically exploiting the working class of this country.

If, however, we can break that economic dependence we Oregonians have on the mutinational conglomerates that are oil corporations by developing an alternative source for our fuel, that is exactly what government should be doing.

And, Jim, I have never been angry at you.

<h2>Well written mate</h2>