Biofuels Journal - September/October 2008 - (Page 32)

Question and Answer Robert Zubrin President Pioneer Astronautics With the recent seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, BioFuels Journal talked to Robert Zubrin, author of the new book Energy Victory and president of Pioneer Astronautics, Lakewood, CO (303-980-0890), to discuss how the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is funding terrorism, and how the United States should switch to mandated flex-fuel vehicles (FFV). Zubrin’s plan will open the fuel market to competition using ethanol or methanol blends in vehicles to reverse the United States’ dependence on oil and to stop buying oil at high prices. We must change this. Time is running out to turn this problem around. FFVs: The Solution The way to defeat OPEC is to diminish their power by taking away the value of oil. We must take this matter into our own hands. If Congress would pass a bill that requires every car sold in the United States to be a flex-fuels vehicle (FFV), we could lower the price of oil and keep OPEC pinned down by making gas prices drop and remain low. Gas would then be forced to com- Zubrin Close-Up Education: Zubrin holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Rochester University (1974) and a master’s degree in nuclear engineering (1984) and aeronautics and astronautics (1986) from the University of Washington, as well as a PH.D. in nuclear engineering (1992). Career: Zubrin worked as a staff engineer at Lockheed Martin Astronautics in Denver, CO, and was a part of NASA's Mars Exploration Long Term Strategy Working Group. He is the author/co-author of over 200 papers, seven patents, and seven books. Zubrin is president of the international non-profit organization known as the Mars Society (1998). Family: Daughter, Rachel; Sister, Linda. Awards: He won two inventors awards from Martin Marietta for his design of a nuclear rocket engine. We’re Funding Terrorism OPEC runs the oil market. Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries have the majority of the oil, which the world economy operates on. Saudi Arabia, the largest recipient of foreign direct investment, is also the primary financer of terrorists in Islam. These countries are our enemies–– they hate everything we stand for. And their power lies in the their control of oil. Yet we continue to buy oil from these countries at high prices, which essentially funds a war against ourselves. As recent as 1999, oil was only $11 a barrel, but it is over $100 today and OPEC is talking about raising it to $200 a barrel by next year. OPEC has us trapped into buying oil, because we have left ourselves without options. If Congress would pass a bill that requires every car sold in the United States to be a flex-fuels vehicle, we could lower the price of oil and keep OPEC pinned down by making gas prices drop and remain low. - Robert Zubrin, president of Pioneer Astronautics pete with ethanol. The problem, however, is almost no gas pumps offer any alternate fuel options. Most consumers are not buying FFVs, because there is nowhere to fill up. 32 BFJ | SEPT/OCT 08

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Biofuels Journal - September/October 2008

Biofuels Journal - September/October 2008 Contents Transportation Mainbar Ethanol Terminal Florida Ethanol Pipeline Ethanol Pipeline Study Rail, Truck Safety NAR Updates Dave Vander Griend, ICM, Inc. Renew Energy LLC, Jefferson, WI I-65 Biofuels Corridor POET’s Project Bell Robert Zubrin, Pioneer Astronautics Calendar ICM Blend Study Ethanol Terminal, Pipeline Study POET BioRefining-Alexandria, Alexandria, TX Steve Przesmitzki, National Renewable Energy Lab What’s Driving Up Food Prices Ethanol World Profile: Charlie Martin, Golden Triangle Energy State Report: Wisconsin Ethanol Plants in the Pipeline Monthly Ethanol Production Ethanol Industry News REG Houston LLC, Seabrook, TX Biodiesel Adhesives Farmer’s Fuel Two-Million Mile Haul Update Bratney/Orbitek New Technology Innovation Fuels, Inc., Newark, NJ NBB Biodiesel Emissions Study Profile: Mike Chandler, Renewable Energy Group Biodiesel World REG—Algal Biodiesel Technology Biodiesel Roundup Camelina Biofuels Biodiesel Industry News New Energy Credits Passed RFS Waiver Cellulosic Ethanol Plants Under Construction Cellulosic Ethanol Plants Construction Map BP Alternative Energy Projects Switchgrass and Soil Local Feedstocks - Clemson SDSU Sun Grants Robert Nixon, Davenport Dryer, LLC Bob Delaney, Gamajet Cleaning Systems Energy Partners Antioch International, Inc. Aeroglide Corp. Strongform Nationwide Industrial Builders Pro-Environmental, Inc. The Eagle Group, Ltd. Biofuels Action Plan Ad Index

Biofuels Journal - September/October 2008

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