Where can I purchase Ethanol/Alcohol in bulk?

[Frank P]

I would like to start a Distribution Co-op in my neighborhood.  Eventually, after our usage builds up to a sizable amount we would then look to set up our on production.  But in the mean time, we would like to have a source that we could use.  I am currently using 50/50 mix of E85 and Unleaded Regular.  However, the E85 is WWWWWWAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY overpriced.

 

Any info or comments from those that have already done this would be appreciated.

[Michael Libke]

Hi Frank,

Go to www.distill.com/usa.  Many, many plants producing a million gal/year.  I can't believe its all blended with gas at only 10% then going to Chevron,Shell and Texaco stations.  So where is it going?  ITS BEING EXPORTED!  Call some of those companys.  See if you can get them to sell to you.  I have tried - they won't, (you have to have a distributor's license).  Search for the new movie, THE BIG FIX.  Blume must know this but he does not tell us.

So, the real problem seems to me is none of the ACBAG groups are making any Etoh.  OR, if any are I wish they would let us know.  Do you agree?  Mike

[Frank P]

You may not be far from the truth.  I wanted to get a distribution co-op going, then expand to production.  Now it seems that there is no one, at least on this forum, that is producing alcohol.  Does anyone know of another forum that is used by small producers?

I may end up building, or buying my own still and start it myself.  I would have thought that those who already have a still would want to earn back some of their investment buy selling excess production.  However I can not get a response from anyone currently making alcohol.

[Michael Libke]

I was hoping to get some response from Pacific Ethanol in CA wrt if I can purchase ethanol from them so that I could report that to you.  I left 3 messages in the last two weeks and so far no call back.  I will try one more time with an email.

I know of no other small producer forums.  It is disappointing that no one in AU is making any fuel.  I spent about 18 months building two stills, a C-803 and a SolarGas still and a plant, (a very low budget outdoor facility which is not real easy to work because it is hard to regulate a steady temp. for mashing/fermenting and the physical work part of the process).  The C-803 is in a very small shed with the boiler just outside.  I have ventured to set things up so as to make the process reproducable.  I got permitted in Jan. `11 and proceded to set up the plant.

Concurrent with putting together the plant, at irregular times, from April to September, I have so far made about 8 small, (5 -8 gal.), batches/runs and produced only about 3 gallons of at best 160 proof ethanol, (using only the copper still because the solar still needs repair).  An experimental effort for sure, but progress was made--each batch-run got better and better. It was a lot of work and the result, one might say, was hardly at an appropriate scale.  This spring and summer I may do some more after repairing the solar still which in my estimation should show good results for the passive process it is.

[Frank P]

Michael you are way ahead of me on the production side.  I am just using, and getting friends to use 50/50 from the E-85 pump so far.  Since I live in San Diego I was thinking I could get enough waste from bars and micro brewers to just distill what we need for now.  I did finally talk to one large CA producer that will sell to me, but at $3.10/gal at their plant.  It is cheaper for me to just purchase at the pump.  At that time I was paying $3.199 at the pump.  Now it is up to $3.599.