Gas too expensive? No problem -- if you've got hidden gas tanks and fake credit cards

Five Orlando men who gassed up their pickup trucks at a Gibsonton Wal-Mart Supercenter last month may have found the perfect way to avoid paying too much for fuel.

According to the authorities, they used hidden tanks in their trucks so they could take up to 1,000 gallons of diesel at a time, which they could then resell.

The hidden tanks held 1,000 gallons, so officials figure that the men's profit per load topped $4,000. And how did they plan to pay for all this?

"They used counterfeit credit cards," said Maj. Bob Johnson, enforcement chief at the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, told the St. Petersburg Times. "One guy had 47 cards on him."

As you might suspect, state officials are now warning everyone that the rate of fuel theft appears to be increasing. So guard that gas tank!

[AP photo]

--Craig Pittman

Sex for gas? Yes, prices are finally that high

The cops had staked out the Days Inn on June 27, hoping to catch women trading sex for money.

Instead they nabbed a Kentucky woman who was trading sex for...a $100 gas card from Speedway.

"Angela R. Eversole, 34, of Fort Wright, Ky., is accused of prostitution and doing business without an occupational license," says the Cincinnati Enquirer. "Kenneth A. Nowak, 50, of Avon, Ind., told police they met at the hotel Friday night for a sexual liaison, according to the arrest report. The report says he paid her with a $100 gas card and other gifts."

“When people are selling their bodies for gas, that’s pretty sad,” said Ken Easterling, chief prosecutor in the Kenton County Attorney’s Office. (Of course what's worse is that the gas card is worth maybe 25 gallons. That's what, one and a half fill-ups? Two at the most.)

We'll leave the smutty jokes to the folks at Fark, but for the couple's mug shots and copies of the actual arrest report, go to The Smoking Gun. That said, one last thought: If she had applied for an occupational license, what would she have listed as her job? Oil trader?

[AP photo]

--Craig Pittman

Police to charge offenders "fuel surcharge" for car chases (and those exploding gas pumps will really cost you)

Police car chases are risky enough. Now, defying the police is going to cost speeding drivers even more if they force police to guzzle gas.

From 1 July, motorists caught speeding in Holly Springs, Ga., will have to pay an extra $12 to cover the costs of the gas that police use while chasing them down, says the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The town's police chief says he expects the "fuel surcharge" will generate up to $26,000 in revenue per year.

Elsewhere, high gas prices are making police think of other ways to save gas. That includes not sitting in stationary police cars with the air conditioner running. Officers in Pennsylvania are being told to park under a tree instead.

[Still from the movie "Bullitt'' courtesy of Warner Bros.]

- David Adams

Revolutionary new Cyclone steam engine -- could it replace the internal combustion engine?

Since this blog began nearly two years ago we have been constantly on the look out for interesting new technology that might contribute to the search for alternative sources and methods for producing energy.

Here's an original one, with seeming commercial potential, I read about this morning in The Miami Herald.

It's called the Cyclone engine. Its inventors, Cyclone Power Technologies, are based in Pompano Beach. Its inventors say this revolutionary new engine is cleaner and more efficient than the internal combustion engine. It can run on any liquid or gaseous fuel, including (ethanol, biodiesel or propane), and uses water instead of motor oil as a lubricant!

Instead of a typical combustion engine ignited by sparks, the Cyclone operates like a super-charged steam engine. Fuel is combusted by a centrifugal, or cyclonic, motion, allowing the fuel to burn more efficiently. Heat is used to generate high-pressure steam to drive the engine.

The result is a highly efficient, cleaner burning engine, the company says. It has patented the technology and has won important engineering awards, as well as a contract from a big defense contractor, Raytheon.

Click here to read the article in The Miami Herald.

David Adams

GOP sides with oil companies, against Democrat plan to roll back Big Oil tax breaks -- and against breaks for alt-fuels

A Democrat-backed bill that "would have rolled back some $17 billion in tax breaks and pressured major oil companies to invest in new energy sources by hitting them with a windfall-profits tax if they did not," says the New York Times, failed to get enough votes in the Senate today to move forward.

"The package also would have instructed the Justice Department to pursue members of OPEC for alleged price fixing and required oil traders to put up more cash on futures exchanges to address speculation, which many observers believe is contributing to the unprecedented run-up in world crude oil prices," the Washington Post reports.

"Republican opponents of the oil-tax measure have argued that higher taxes on the oil companies would backfire, driving up gasoline prices and discouraging new domestic oil production and exploration," the Times reports. "If the bill were approved, the American people 'will get exactly what they don’t want,' said Senator Pete Domenici, Republican of New Mexico, who predicted higher prices and more reliance on imports."

Instead Republicans want to "increase environmentally safe exploration of untapped oil resources in the United States" -- i.e., drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Meanwhile, in a separate vote, Senate Republicans blocked consideration of legislation that would extend tax breaks for wind, solar and other alternative energy sources.

       [AP photo]

--Craig PIttman

From hedge to car?

Can this attractive hedge power your car? Probably not, but maybe its cousin can. [Skip O'Rourke | Times]

Scientists have culled biofuel from corn, grass, and now nuts: physic nuts from the Jatropha curcas plant.

Business leaders, agronomists and fuel scientists alike are meeting in Miami this week to discuss the future of a fuel alternative derived from Jatropha seeds. The poisonous shrub produces golf-ball sized fruits containing three oily seeds that can be processed into a biofuel.

The good part about Jatropha: it grows easily in poor soil, does not require much water or fertilizer and can produce more gallons per acre than corn or soy. Not to mention, some varieties do make a rather attractive hedge.

The bad part: Crop yields can vary wildly, and the long-term environmental impact of Jatropha's cultivation is still unknown. Plus, it is toxic and has been called the "vomit nut."

Despite the unanswered questions, Jatropha's business potential has Wall Street excited.

--Catriona Stuart, Times staff writer

New gasoline additive, RxP, increases mileage by 5-10%

A Florida man has come up with a cheap additive that gets increased fuel efficiency out of your tank of gasoline. Dean Johnson, 86, has been battling for years to get gas companies to accept his product, a propane additive known as RxP, which increases fuel economy by 5-10% a gallon. The product also claims to reduce emissions.

Now with gas prices over $4 people are beginning to take an interest.

Click here to read a story about R&P in today's St Petersburg Times.

- David Adams

Another clean energy innovation from Progress Energy and USF: Nifty, but not ready yet

Like so many of the innovations that might supply a clean energy future, a new energy storage system unveiled with much fanfare Tuesday morning is nifty but not quite ready for a home near you.

With Gov. Charlie Crist and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker in cheerful attendance, Progress Energy and the University of South Florida showed off their latest invention: the Sustainable Electric Energy Delivery System, or SEEDS.

The engineers and experts call it an "advanced energy storage system." Think of it like a big battery. For those of us who charge our i-Pods and load the remote with Duracells without a second thought, it might come as a surprise that finding a better battery has become the Holy Grail quest of the electric industry. Being able to store power could make renewables like wind and solar more viable by unchaining them from the vagaries of weather.

Gas prices force new commuter habits. Tri-Rail use is up. So is "slugging" on MOV lanes. Send us your tips.

Miami's mass transit system is one of the most limited of any major U.S. city. But rising gas prices are forcing more and more reluctant commuters to turn to the underused Tri-Rail train system which has one line linking south Florida's tri-county area.

Tri-Rail this week broke it's ridership record, exceeding 16,000 passengers for only the second time in its history. The record was in June 2006 when 18,452 passengers used it to attend the Miami Heat victory parade.

Other commuters are turning to "slugging," a system whereby solo drivers pick up passengers for free in order to take advantage of the 'Multi-Occupancy Vehicle' lanes that can cut commuting time in half.

Click here to listen to a feature about "slugging to work" on NPR's Morning Edition. Not only does this save time, it also saves money on gas.

Are you changing your commuting habits? Let us know what tips you have in your area for getting to work faster and cheaper.

- David Adams

Tidal energy harnessed in Northern Ireland: introducing the SeaGen

We recently wrote about research in Florida about underwater turbines capturing energy from ocean current and tides.

I just learned about a British company, Marine Current Turbines (MCT) which is currently installing an undersea turbine in the Irish Sea which is hoped will produce enough energy to power 1,000 homes.

MCT installed the world’s first offshore tidal turbine near Lynmouth off the coast of Devon in May 2003. It's new project will be its first commercial scale tidal turbine, the 1.2 MW SeaGen, in Strangford Narrows in Northern Ireland.

"SeaGen is the only existing example  in the world of tidal turbine technology of a scale and performance capability capable of unlocking the potential of tidal stream and marine current energy on a commercial scale," the company says. MCT has received the backing of a number of major international utilities as well as institutional investors, including EDF Energy and Triodos Bank, and most recently ESBI, part of the Irish electricity utility.

Click here to listen to an interview with the company's managing director, Martin Wright.

Click here to read about ocean current energy research at Florida Atlantic University.

- David Adams

House bill socks oil companies to benefit alternatives

As the price of a barrel of oil hit a new high Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved $18 billion in new taxes on the largest oil companies. The money would provide tax breaks for wind, solar and other alternative energy sources -- including energy conservation.

The bill was being pushed hard by Democrats who cited record oil prices and rising gasoline costs in a time of economic troubles as the reason to approve the measure, the Associated Press reports. Oil prices peaked at $102 a barrel for the first time Wednesday.

The legislation, approved 236-182, would cost the five largest oil companies an average of $1.8 billion a year over that period, according an analysis by the House Ways and Means Committee. Those companies earned $123 billion last year.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., noted it was two years ago, when oil cost $55 a barrel, when President Bush said oil companies need no government subsidies to pursue more oil or gas.

"With the price of oil hovering around $100 do we really believe this incentive is justified?" asked Hoyer. "Do these companies need taxpayer subsidies to look for new product? They don't need any incentive."

The White House says singling out the oil companies for higher taxes "would reduce the nation's energy security rather than improve it" and "lead to higher energy costs to U.S. consumers and business."

To read the full Associated Press story, click here.

--Craig Pittman

Ocean energy - is it the way of the future for Florida?

The concept of ocean energy is beginning to catch on in Florida as a possible alternative source of clean electricity in the future. It's still a long way off, but I write today in the St Petersburg Times about research at Florida Alantic University's Center of Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology.

Governor Charlie Crist really likes the idea and is proposing $10 million is funding for ocean energy research in his 2009 budget.  "This is a resource that is boundless. I want to do everything I can to help," he said in an interview.

I visited Sea Tech, the oceanic engineering center at Florida Atlantic University to meet Dr Rick Driscoll, director of the ocean energy program (see photo)

Click here to read the article.

- David Adams

Farm to Fuel announces $25-million awards

The state handed out $25-million in “Farm to Fuel” grants on Tuesday, including $11-million for two biofuel producers that have projects around Tampa Bay. But the money won’t be spent on local projects.

U.S. EnviroFuels received $7-million from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for a $47-million sugar waste-to-ethanol facility in Venus. The company’s plans for an ethanol plant at Port of Tampa has been held up by a legal dispute.

Agri-Source Fuels, which has a biodiesel plant in Dade City, received $4-million for a new, $21-million biodiesel plant in Pensacola.

The state created the Farm to Fuel program to spur investment in biofuel production and research in Florida. The grants included research money for university programs around Florida. Projects include algae-to-biodiesel, citrus-to-ethanol and other emerging biofuel technologies.

-Asjylyn Loder, Times staff writer

Dying to be Green - Making your funeral arrangements

Depending on how green you want to be, there are now eco-friendly funeral options being offered - think bio-degradable caskets - or no casket at all.

To learn more click here for a story by my St Pete Times colleague Tamara El-Khoury.

- David Adams

N.H. to candidates: Where's your energy policy?

The presidential candidates would rather talk about immigration or Iraq -- but the voters in New Hampshire want to know what their energy policy is, says today's New York Times.

“Oil affects everything,” said Paris Wells, who owns an ice cream shop on Main Street in the little town of HIllsborough, N.H. “We need someone in office who’s going to look seriously at alternative power of some form.”

The Times said Wells was spending more than $1,000 a month on heating oil in winter, and noted that he was typical. New Hampshire is more dependent on oil heat than any state except Maine and Vermont, the story pointed out.

"But despite what many here consider a rising crisis regarding dependence on foreign oil, most said the presidential candidates had disappointingly vague approaches to energy policy or, worse, little interest in the subject," the Times reported.

To read the full story, click here.

--Craig Pittman

Ocean wave energy from the Gulf Stream could be Florida's best renewable source of power

Florida is apparently hoping to lead the country in ocean energy technology. Last week I noted a private venture underway in the Florida Keys. There is also very interesting work being done at Florida Atlantic University where a pilot project is soon going to be put into operation capturing the huge potential of the Gulf Stream.

Scientists at FAU's Center of Excellence in Ocean Wave Energy say the Gulf Stream carries eight million gallons of water a minute, potentially creating enough energy to one third of the state's needs.

Click here to listen to a great report on NPR about the work being done at FAU.

Click here for a multi-media video presentation.

- David Adams

The new Google search: how to be cheaper than coal?

We reported earlier this week on Google's announcement that it will spend hundreds of millions of dollars developing new solar and wind technologies. (click here for press release from Google)

The goal, according to Google, is to make renewable energy cheaper than coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel. Google is especially focusing on introducing renewable energy options in fast-growing countries like China and India, which depend heavily on coal.

Here's some more links:

Click here to read an article in Fortune

Click here for an interview with Bill Weihl, Google's "alternative energy czar," on NPR's show, 'Talk of the Nation.'

- David Adams

Google aims for green on the cheap

Google today announced plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to make renewable energy cheaper than coal. The campaign, called RE<C, will focus at first on solar thermal, geothermal and wind power. The program will hire experts and engineers to investigate new technology, and the company plans to invest in breakthrough renewable energy projects.

"Our goal is to produce one gigawatt of renewable energy capacity that is cheaper than coal. We are optimistic that this can be done in years, not decades," said Larry Page, co-founder of Google and president of products. One gigawatt could power a city the size of San Francisco, the release said.

In Florida, critics of renewable energy say it's more expensive and less reliable than traditional fuels, like coal and natural gas. However, that calculus is hotly disputed by some, including solar proponents, who say the cost of solar power is coming down as oil prices rise. Additionally, new regulations could put a cost on carbon dioxide emissions, making coal far more expensive than it is today.

-Asjylyn Loder, Times staff writer

Choose to be catalog free ... and save a tree

Tired of all those unwanted - and unrequested catalogs?

Now a coalition of environmental groups has come up with a free  Web site CatalogChoice.org to get yourself removed from mailing lists. Think how much paper could be saved!

The group claims it has already helped 165,000 people op out of 1.7 million catalogs since it went online Oct 9. I am just about to add my name. It's clever and simple. All you have to do is sign up and look for the catalog names you want to stop receiving.

The website is operated by the National Wildlife Federation, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Ecology Center.

- David Adams

An underwater tidal turbine farm in the Florida keys

It's one of the newest emerging concepts for alternative energy: harnessing tidal energy to drive turbines to create electricity. There are a number of projects in the United States, including several in Florida.

Click here for an article about one scheme, Keys Hydro Power in the Florida Keys to combine 300 turbines to create 160 megawatts, enough to power the entire lower Keys. It's the non-profit brainchild of a massage therapist, Douglas Bedgood, who lives in Love Lane, Key West.

- David Adams

San Francisco bans plastic grocery bags. Other cities to follow.

Plastic grocery store bags are now banned in San Francisco thanks to a new city ordinance that entered into effect this week. Pharmacies will be obliged to do the same six months from now.

Oakland has passed a similar ban that goes into effect early next year. New Jersey is hoping to become the first state to adopt a similar ban. London and Paris are both adopting measures.

Stores in San Francisco can still use plastic bags so long as they are a special type that are compostable. Bags must now be made of at least 40 percent high-grade recycled paper.

Click here for more news.

- David Adams

Maine company plans tide power

A company in Eastport, Maine plans to launch a pilot project to generate power from tides. Ocean Renewable Power Company said its $1-million pilot, scheduled to launch in early December, was three years in the making.

St. Petersburg scientists recently tested a different type of device to harness ocean power. Read about that here.

-Asjylyn Loder, Times staff writer

Hydro success story in Laos?

Hydro electric dams have gotten a bad rap in the developing world. They're accused of causing economic and environmental ruin ... and inviting massive corruption. But the South East Asian country of Laos is being hailed as a shining example of doing it right.

Click here to listen to this BBC report.

- David Adams

Weeding out a potential biofuels problem?

Growers of plants for use as biofuels are looking for certain qualities in their crops: hardiness, a paucity of pests and diseases and the ability to outcompete other plants.

Unfortunately, according to a new report from the Invasive Species Council released at a global warming conference in Sydney, Australia, those are also hallmarks of invasive weeds, which government and farmers are trying to eradicate.

"It turns out that many potential biofuel species pose a weed risk," the council reported. "Some of the world’s worst weeds may be biofuel prospects for Australia—giant reed and spartina appear in the World Conservation Union’s list of 100 of the World’s Worst Invaders, and Chinese tallow tree is rated as one of the the 12 worst invasive pests in the United States."

"Australia should not try to solve one environmental problem by creating another," warned ISC spokesman and report author, Tim Low. "These plants have no proven value as biofuel crops but bad reputations as weeds."

In February St. Petersburg Times reporter Kris Hundley wrote about a Florida company that wants to grow the giant reed, also known as arundo, for use as a biofuel, despite objections from environmental groups and even from the chairwoman of the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, University of Florida assistant professor Alison Fox. "Florida should not accept the risk posed by large acreage plantings of this species," Fox said. "The evidence is piling up that this is not a great idea.

To see the council's press release and find a link to the report itself, click here.

And to read the St. Petersburg Times story about arundo click here.

--Craig Pittman

Smart strip tip

Here's a tip from Roberta Fernandez, a global warming consultant in Florida who is one of Al Gore 'climate change messengers.'

She says it' s product that is especially good for businesses that have lots of high tech stuff.

"It's a new surge protector/power strip that will actually shut off what you plug into it! It's called a Smart Strip. Your equipment is still protected against power surges. If you typically leave everything on (this also counts for sleep mode), you'll save 73%. The savings associated with turning off just your computer can be as high as $11.55 per month. I just bought one for the office desk and one for the entertainment center. With all of my peripherals, they should will pay for themselves in about 2 months.

Click here to visit the Smart Strip website.

Being PC (politically correct) with your PC (personal computer).

The BBC's technology program has a useful feature on the energy use of personal computers - and ways to reduce your energy consumption.

Click here for the story.

Click here for Local Cooling, a website that promotes energy efficiency and personal computers.

- David Adams

'Green Lodging' in Florida

Florida Gov Charlie Crist is promoting a 'Green Lodging' plan to encourage hotels to be more environmentally conscious and conserve energy. The Florida Green Lodging Program was established in 2004 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The latest hotel to be certified is the Sirata Beach Resort on St Petersburg Beach. This brings the list to 29 certified hotels, including The Four Seasons and the Intercontinental in Miami. Others seeking certification include the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort in Aventura, the DeSoto Ocean View Inn in Hollywood, and the Woodmont Hotel in Tamarac.

Read more about it in The Miami Herald.

- David Adams

Small businesses can get into green power too - and save money.

The New York Times today offers its readers this interesting feature on small businesses in Washington who are buying