An Open Letter To Vice-President Biden From Ohio BioSystems Cooperative

Co-publishers Note: I was asked to republish this open letter to Vice President Biden to help get his attention as to a solution that a group of heartland Americans is pursuing for the good of our country our people and the world...a noble and righteous endeavor. So here it is…if you agree with Ted and his band of mighty Americans why not email VP Biden; http://www.whitehouse.gov/ContactUs/ a solution is at hand...now is the time for all Americans to come to the aid of their country.

From: Ted Chipner
Ohio BioSystems Cooperative
Nashville, OH
To: Vice President Joe Biden

Dear Mr. Vice President,
Please forgive and allow this intrusion, we offer our sincere apologies, as we understand “things” are a little busy in and around the beltway. However,

Over the last 14 or so months, the Ohio BioSystems Cooperative has researched the National Transportation Energy issues to understand. We first assembled a panel of national experts who include Professors and/or Directors at: Ashland University, Ohio State University, OSU OARDC, the University of Georgia Research Foundation for cellulosic processing, a Physicist from the University of Utah for Naphthenic Kerosene and a Physicist from Germany who worked for NASA in the past. We believe the efforts we are about to share are entirely too important from a National perspective to not “pull out all of the stops.” As we, all of us are honestly convinced that we have rendered the specific direction the Nation must go in context of National Transportation Energy and concerning the distinct danger that foreign oil possesses.

Ohio BioSystems Cooperative has been established as an Ohio not-for-profit. We are also pending 501(c)(3) form 1023 submission to the IRS for federal not-for-profit approval. We formed this corporation in this manner, as our efforts are specifically NOT about making money. Our efforts are about the absolute mitigation of a National threat as it relates to foreign oil and the legacy, at this point; we are leaving our Grandchildren and theirs. As such, in February of 2008, I began researching the context of this national issue. As I discovered the multiple underlying issues, I then derived solutions that mitigate those issues in theory and then practicality. At that point, I/we also assembled a panel of national experts to review what we had discovered. These experts not only see the context and the absolute validity of OBSCs’ NTEP they are willing to lend their time (unpaid) and credentials in realizing this goal for our Nation. (Please see attached; CA Energy Commission & AQMD submissions)

A. From this research we have determined:

(a) The nation must move the way of Cellulosic based Ethanol. There is literally NO choice in this. Our transportation fuel “infrastructure” is a liquid and the solution in “transition to hydrogen” as a transportation fuel (Autothermal Reforming) must be a liquid. Citing:

i) Oil Companies and their liquid fuel infrastructure are entrenched in a significantly MAJOR way across the union. So much in fact, that if the U.S. went to another energy source abruptly, it is opined that the U.S. will have a much, much more devastating impact to the economy and jobs across the country than we have experienced with failing banks.

ii) There are ~192 million vehicles (RL Polk) on the road today that can be converted to Flex Fuel Vehicles. We are convinced that we can prove this claim in an absolute sense. This is part of the “infrastructure” we are looking at. Not just, oil companies’ and their “Pumps” and “Pipes.”

(1) Even if we convert the ~192M, we do not have enough ethanol production to support them.

iii) We must plant, on non-food producing “marginal” acreage, an estimated 87,749,832.45 acres (cut twice a year) in switchgrass which is a livestock “hay” native to America (it ranks equal to or just above other hays: Bermuda Grass, Timothy, Red Clover and Fescue in certain cases). We intend on tasking the USDA in the identification of these specific tracks of marginal lands and then contacting the owner(s) for participation in NTEP Project II – Renewable Biomass Feedstocks;

(1) We have methodologically chosen eight (8) pilot states for their rain levels and drought aspects: OH, IN, PA, NY, IL, MO, WV, and TN.

(2) From this planting, we have calculated @ ~1,000 gallons an acre with a process known as UGARF case 1392 (University of Georgia Research Foundation, patent pending) in which their claim yields 10-fold the current method(s) of producing Ethanol to replace the ~175,499,664,900 gallons of oil imported per year (2007–calculated figure).

(a) The initial issue is the U.S. DOES NOT have enough switchgrass seed available and the lead-time is >= 3 years just to produce the seed and another 3 years to yield maturity. Ceres and Archer Daniels Midland are very, very slow on the move regarding this.

(i) The immediate solution is to;

1. Form a consortium of all of the Corn ethanol producers, to keep them “afloat” while we grow the “Seed Stock” for the massive planting to harvest effort. All the while, we are importing anhydrous ethanol from South America, China or wherever we can get it as a stopgap measure while the nation mobilizes into an ethanol infrastructure as described. This should keep these companies solvent while they move into a Cellulosic methodology;

2. In doing this, literally NOTHING on the large scale changes, except the cost of a gallon of fuel and some overall minor modifications @ the pump and with ~192 million light and medium duty vehicles. Initially we believe that it will be as it is at the pumps today with regular gasoline, but in 3-5 years; we have calculated the initial cost at the pump to be >=$2.20 then settling to $1.00-$1.50, then 4-7 years out, a nice $.40-$.80 a gallon as momentum of NTEP gathers in context to the production of cellulosic ethanol across the country. Calculations are speculative at best at this time, but they are based on the current price of a barrel of crude from outside the country.

3. We have also “guestimated” that we will be able to produce roughly 42 gallons of Bio-Naphthenic Kerosene which when blended with current BioDiesel, we believe it will possess a positive increase in HP by combining it with today’s BioDiesel or a “K-85 configuration” if you will. “K-85” for 85% Naphthenic Kerosene (lignin-based residue from making cellulosic ethanol) and 15% standardized BioDiesel. We have made efforts in this area with Detroit Diesel, who are interested in testing the compounds as stated. This process is real and patented by the University of Utah.

B.  Sir, the direct point in this; we are convinced that we have
actually mitigated ALL issues across the board in an absolute sense and now
we believe the Nation must move in this direction and we believe we can
prove it.  Our basis for this statement is a rock-solid foundation in
Science, National Policy and from an Executive level Program/Project
management aspect.
C. We have also have filed the entire NTEP into the State of
Ohio’s Federal Stimulus Initiative on the web (see attachment) and
plan to insert each of the six projects singularly to provide full detail
for context.  However, and most likely because in that filing, we stated
that it would create or sustain 30,000 jobs in Ohio and the cost of the
entire NTEP is approximated at $223M, +- 50%.  We believe that the aspects
of this program will be overlooked for it being a “to good to be
true” scenario and that is the furthest thing from the reality of
this.  The Nation actually CAN accomplish this program and remove the
threat that foreign oil fosters.  Not to mention bringing $700+ billion
back into OUR economy and the jobs that will be created.
D.  The NTEP program if “all things were equal,” would take
no longer than 5 years and the nation would not have the dependence that we
do now on foreign oil.	Of course, all things are simply NOT equal and the
reality may be a 7-10 year timeline for total market permeation.
E.  Environmental factors of using ethanol are very “green”
as it were.  The entire life-cycle of the NTEP will reduce direct GHG
emissions between 48-59% comparative to E0 with carbon monoxide emission
reductions by as much as 30%, toxics content by 13% (mass) and 21%
(potency), and tailpipe fine particulate matter (PM) emissions by 50%
across the nation and eventually the globe.  Switchgrass also sequesters
carbon dioxide in a manner making this process CO2-neutral (or actually
CO2- negative if soil carbon sequestration is considered), compare to
fossil fuels that add CO2 to the atmosphere.  Across the board, switchgrass
is the preferred substrate or feedstock.
F.  A single major issue we face in this program is in context of grant
applications for stimulus and recovery funding.  Samuel Clemens said it
best as we believe this part of the effort is going to be like
“herding cats” to coordinate each application to multiple state
and federal entities for sole source approval.	Accomplishing this part of
the national effort will be/is an impossible scenario without assistance
from the Whitehouse and subsequently, the D.O.E., the EPA and/or other
Federal Agencies.  We cannot recommend your intervention strongly enough
citing a distinct need of your participation in fostering this national
effort as discussed throughout this communication.

In effect, regarding this communication, we are requesting that you
and your office please take a moment and seriously review what we are
proposing.  Moreover, based on that review, if possible on this short
notice attend a meeting on May 28, 2009 at 9AM here at Ashland University,
in Ashland, OH.  Once there is a full grasp of this plan, we would ask for
your help and advice in Nationalizing NTEP.

We all realize this sounds complex and rather enormous.	That is
because it certainly is, and specifically why we need your help.  What we
are proposing, see the attachments, is FACT with the methodology expressed
as a focused PROGRAM to remove this national threat related to foreign oil.
 I can call it fact and a threat, because of my experience in the
Intelligence Community. I know specifically what the exact threat aspects
in these areas are.  The threat may have changed slightly over the years,
relative to my departure in December of 1994 as a disabled and decorated
Gulf War Navy Veteran of ~14 years, but it certainly has not diminished.
 
Mr. Vice President, please advise us at your earliest concerning
this invitation to attend the second in the series of Roundtable
discussions & planning tentatively scheduled @ Ashland University on
Thursday, June 25th, 2009, 9AM.  We need your help in guiding us through
this maze of variant criteria & staffing needs within Ohio and outside at
the National level in this effort.
  
   Alternate dates for subsequent roundtable discussions are the
same hour of 9AM for approximately 2-3 hours and then finish out with lunch
on the last Thursday in:  July-30th and/or August-27th, 2009.


Respectfully Submitted,

G.T. (Ted) Chipner

Volunteer President and CEO

Ohio BioSystems Cooperative,
an Ohio not-for-profit

419-908-7663

obsc@ohiobiosystems.org