I have written on the topic of methanol and have indicated that gas prices at pumps throughout the US are STILL at prices disproportionate to the cost of the oil. It costs no more to import now, in, December 2006, than it did in December 2001 except that we are paying two hundred percent more for the oil. Those trying to defend the prices indicate spot prices are up very high. While their claim of spot prices might be correct, that is like saying to one who asks about movie prices, that radio advertising revenue is down; not comparable; oil firms buy months and years ahead if they don't own oil fields in partnerships already and most of them do have the partnerships].

Thus, consumers of oil products everywhere but In Venezuela, will not get a fair deal from the producers. End of that story. So, what is a consumer to do? While it was considered a short fix just a year ago, the true story can be in the replacement of oil with ethanol or even methanol.. These items are the end product of either corn [ethanol] or green growing items.

I have and still do, suggest that those who want to free themselves of the gas pumps of old, that they get consistent access to ethanol or methanol by hiring an engineer to make them a mini processing plant-or wait for my company to make them for sale nation-wide. I searched the internet and found methanol and ethanol home systems that sell for about $3,000. These machines-gizmos, do look like old fashioned stills-used for making home brew-cause that is what they could be used for! There is only a slight difference between the end product ethanol and methanol and drinkable home brew. This author is only interested in the non-drinking type.

If one were to hire an engineer or buy from the internet, either type of brewing system, one could set it up in one's garage or backyard. It does not make a flammable product like gasoline since it is not processed from black oil but instead, from corn or floral components.

The tricky part in this whole revolution of ethanol and methanol is the needed modifications to the vehicle. Since ethanol or methanol can be used in any machine that uses an internal combustion engine, the engineer or mechanic simply needs to add components that can consume and feed the end item to the carburetor or fuel injector, depending on what your vehicle uses.

I have been told the modifications can be done in under an hour and can cost about $2,500.

I think that cost is high. But let's consider it regardless. The average vehicle gets 20 miles to the gallon, and holds 25 gallons. Twenty five gallons times 20 miles to the gallon gets the vehicle 500 miles until another tank of fuel is needed. The average price of gasoline is $2.25 a gallon. Thus, with this matrix of math, a tank of gas costs 25 x 2.25= $56.25. [Before the oil companies began raping the consumer, this same gas cost about $1.00 a gallon.]

Until the ethanol and methanol processing systems get more efficient, it is understood by experts that these systems will work with an efficiency loss of 30%.

While that sounds distasteful and wasteful, it has an over-riding benefit; there is no cost to grow methanol products and their processing costs are limited to the electricity to operate the machine [which can be handled by photovoltaic or AC systems].

So, for the sake of this "course on ethanol and methanol", let's deal with this inefficiency accurately.

Any price for their product at a station is almost pure profit. So, our 20 gallons of methanol or ethanol costs perhaps $05. a gallon and to give a pumping location a profit, let's make it $.30 a gallon. .30 x 20= $6.00 instead of the $56.25 currently charged for gasoline.

Now to be fair, we must acknowledge the inefficiency of the fuel, so we need another 30% fuel to get the same distance. Thus, 30% of $6.00 = about $2.00. We add this to the cost of a tank and we get $8.00, instead of $56.25. Now we need to deal with the cost and amortization of the changes to the vehicle; about $2,500. If a person pays for this from a credit card and is assured of consistent fuel supplies at the same price, let's see how long it will take for the cost of the modifications to be "made up" by the lower cost of fuel; cost of a tank of fuel now $56.25 Subtract the cost with the new fuel 8.00

Gives us a savings of $48.25.

$2,500 divided by $48.25 = [round the 48 upwards to 50 to make this easier] becomes 2500 divided by 50 = 50.

It will take 50 tank fulls to reimburse oneself for the modifications to the vehicle.

Many people fill their tanks 2x a month. That equals 52 tanks a year. Using that single formula, in just under one year, a family will reimburse themselves for the cost of the change.

The cost of methanol or ethanol might increase but not the cost to process it. Interestingly, while oil based fuels burn dirty, [thus we need and have, a smog control device]. With an alternative fuel source, this device is unnecessary. Since engines do need oil to lubricate them One of the new entrepreneurial activities I have suggested to friends and neighbors alike is that the handymen and engineers alike start building skills to make home brew in their backyards.

When they get these made, learn how to modify engines to accept this new fuel source. Soon, we can have fuel stations across our valleys and cities and states and in no time, the evil fuel empire will be like M. Wards, W. T.Grants and others-Gone with the Wind and the small entrepreneur can begin enjoying the profits that the big firms are now enjoying.

I am willing to help any entrepreneur set up his processor and his engine modification station.