Under-Age Drinking & Over-Age Thinking: Making Money off the Land

I’ve always felt that a society that stops exploring is a society that stops progressing. Significant challenges remain here and it must be “us” that lay the foundation for our future “West Virginian’s” to appreciate, with a their knowledge of making it better.

We should be very much dependent on ourselves to generate government revenue to surpass the capacity within ourselves that is capable to achieve such goals. It is up to us to be “the miracle”.

Traveling along the interstate systems, you find a lot of “dead area’s”---empty space that beckons the weary traveler--that is, if only there was a place to stop. Of course you have your rest area’s, but they do not offer much other than a place to stretch your legs or use the bathroom facilities.

Why not utilize these spaces as a form of added income for this state? Leasing out the land for a fast food restaurant is an option. A joint venture between private investment and our state government. With strict regulations geared towards family fun.

A farmers market along these area’s would also be a way for people to sell their wares. Not just fruits and vegetables, but arts and crafts, maple syrup or even hot peppers. There’s a multitude of options just waiting to be exploited---and for a profit.

And I believe through “word of mouth”, the message of friendliness, hospitality and products, that out-of-state traveler’s would gladly welcome. And of course, we would welcome their cash.

But the idea here is to make the state more accessible with a road better traveled. Some place fun for the kids to visit and retain a “lifetime” of memories to be shared with generations to come. A recollection that will burn in their memory banks and fill their hearts with joy every time they think about “that time we took the family through the hills of West Virginia”.

A West Virginia Lottery for Eliminating the Food Tax

Yes, at one time we had a West Virginia Lottery.
Then we went nuts on “Powerball” with it’s 100’s of millions in winnings.

But the argument goes that a West Virginia Lottery would only generate a winning weekly total of around $30,000 to $50,000. Well, I don’t know about you, but that type of windfall would sure help out a lot of West Virginian’s that I know.

And they say we can’t eliminate the “Powerball” game because of the revenue that it brings in. OK, then with the separate West Virginia Lottery we could designate the profits like Powerball does, towards the goal of eliminating our %5 food tax. As has been proven from past legislative sessions, these so called “representatives” can not come up with a way to do it on their own. So perhaps this idea can lead them to think about ways to help eliminate the regressive food tax.

But getting back to the West Virginia Lottery idea. Wouldn’t 50 grand come in handy to reduce down the payment on your house, or purchase another vehicle, or even help set up a fund so that your kids could go to college on?

Why waste money on unseen riches of $300 million bucks that you or I will never lay our hands on? West Virginia Lottery monies would be dedicated to helping all of this great state and it’s people. Aiding the necessities in life that true West Virginia people need and like the most.

A Concept That Works: Biodiesel & Synthetics

Our dependence on foreign oil has completely taken control over our daily routines, budgets and lifestyle’s. Other methods are available and it is time that these new and ingenious ideas were made right here in West Virginia.

Biodiesel:
Biodiesel is a domestic, renewable fuel for diesel engines derived from natural oils like soybean oil or canola. It is a chemical process called transesterification whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products -- methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerin ( a valuable byproduct sold to be used in soaps and other products).

Biodiesel is typically produced by a reaction of a vegetable oil or animal fat with an alcohol such as methane or ethanol in the presence of a catalyst to yield mono-alkyl esters and glycerin, which is removed.

Biodiesel can be used in any concentration with petroleum based diesel fuel in existing diesel engines with little or no modification. It is not the same as raw vegetable oil.

It is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Since it is made in the USA, and hopefully in West Virginia with urging and prodding from my administration, its use decreases our dependence on foreign oil and contributes greatly not only to the West Virginia economy, but the economy and dependence of the entire United States!

Thermochemical Synthetic Gas:
Building a biorefinery in West Virginia is a real possibility considering our timber and farming products that this process uses. With the available government assistance to free ourselves from the dependency of foreign oil, then this can be a reality!

A refinery using the thermochemical method to produce synthetic gas from organic matter, such as cotton stalks, pulp and paperboard, can be converted to a liquid and sold to petroleum companies.

Waste biomass can be considered as a potential feedstock source for sustainable energy production. Biomass can be converted to chemicals either by thermochemical or biological processes. Gasification is one of the thermo chemical methods of converting biomass to synthetic gas (CO an H2). The synthetic gas produced can be converted to different chemicals like ethanol, acetic acid, etc., chemically or by using biological catalysts.

Other renewable resources from West Virginia are hard wood, soft wood and switch grass. The biological conversion of synthetic gas requires minimal tar content, a catalytic converter/destructor is used to reduce the amount of tars generated during gasification.

This will provide West Virginian’s with high paying jobs and keep our “newly” graduated, and experienced professors here. And solve the crushing dependency we have on foreign oil products.

Vision Is Scary: Ethanol Production

Here is an idea of which I proposed in 1998. West Virginia, as a state commodity, be responsible for the origin’s, cultivation and promotion and sales of ethanol as a gasoline alternative. And, as of this writing, with gas prices skyrocketing, I am sure you would agree it is a needed process.

Present Day: 2006

The nation’s growing thirst for ethanol is leading to a mini boom in plant construction---so why can’t this process and development be utilized here in West Virginia?

Thirthy-three ethanol plants are under construction, and another eight of the 95 plants in operation are being expanded, the Renewable Fuels Association reports.
Ethanol is a plant-based alcohol fuel that’s seen as a way to lessen U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

Besides the energy bill signed by President Bush that encourages greater use of ethanol as an ecologically sound fuel additive, ethanol makers are getting a boost from Detroit, where automakers are promoting vehicles that can burn E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The more common gasohol is 10% ethanol.
Ethanol supplies are expected to more than double in the next decade, from 4 billion gallons produced last year to 9.8 billion by 2015. Current producers are at full speed. We, as a state, need to act now.

Builders say they have more wok than they can handle. Some of the expansion is from existing operators. Archer Daniels Midland, the largest producer, plans to increase from 1.1 billion gallons a year today to 1.5 billion by 2008. Last month ADM announced a plant will be built in Columbus, Nebraska. And from experience, I know West Virginian’s can out work and out think any state!

But some plants are planned outside the Corn Belt. Which are California, Arizona and Hawaii.
All of these plants are going to rely on corn shipped by rail and cattle feed as a byproduct.
I believe this could be accomplished here in West Virginia easily! With the growing amount of Government assistance available, and our great soil used to produce corn, then we have a big winner just sitting here waiting to be prodded into existence.

What a better way to help the nation and most importantly the farming and cattle producers of West Virginia. And all the while creating good paying jobs that helps out several well chosen counties. An added plus is that this process and usage is ecological in all aspects.

So, once again I will try to bring this idea to fruition.