If we could know about all the deep, deep discounts on ethanol far enough in advance, there's a good chance we could drive across America on E85 for like $10. Sure, you'd need to spend a lot of time in Minnesota or Iowa, but the latest subsidized ethanol offer will be available to flex-fuel vehicle drivers in Los Angeles (Brentwood). Like most of these promotions, we learn about them just a few days in advance. The details for this one are that next Tuesday, for two hours, GM will be running an ethanol promotion at the Conserv Fuel located at 11699 San Vicente Blvd. What's the deal? 85 cents a gallon for E85. If you live nearby, check your vehicle's badges or manual. GM says that many people don't know their car can accept E85. Now would be a good time to find out.

[Source: GM]

General Motors vehicles and biomass materials are two things that you can find pretty much anywhere on the planet. GM and Coskata Energy announced a partnership today at the Detroit Auto Show that certainly hints at a future where you we will find biomass materials fueling GM vehicles in a lot of places, maybe pretty much anywhere.

If you've heard the Coskata name before, it's likely from the name of the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge. The Coskata energy company, no relation, was started in July of 2006 with funding by ethanol-magnate Vinod Khosla's Khosla Ventures as well as Advanced Technology Ventures and Great Point Ventures. Why was all this big money interested in Coskata? Because Coskata claims they will soon reach one of the holy grails of the new energy movement: cheap cellulosic ethanol that can be created, well, pretty much anywhere in the world. The short version of this story: Coskata Ethanol can make ethanol from biomass, municipal solid waste and any other carbon-containing material and GM, which has taken an equity stake in Coskata, wants to promote the heck out of this ability.

More details than you can possibly devour in one sitting after the jump.

While there is certainly a large number of GOPers who don't want to give the idea of climate change the time of day, the national security wing of the Party is most likely very much in favor of reducing the amount of oil imports. Therefore, it makes some sense that when GM was named to be the "Official Vehicle Provider to 2008 Republican National Convention," they chose to make the 300-vehicle fleet "primarily" of flexible-fuel and hybrid models.

GM has worked with the Republicans for the last seven GOP conventions, and this year GOP convention President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Cino said in a statement (available after the jump) that the partnership will be part of "the greenest convention in our Party's history." Since the convention will be held in Minnesota, my guess is that the E85-capable vehicles will actually have ethanol in them. Still, it'd be nice if someone can check for us when the convention happens in September. Anyone want to volunteer?

On an OT side note, I have to believe that this line from the statement announcing the partnership is pure comedy:
"The Republican Party is committed to environmental preservation and the responsible stewardship of our natural resources." Not even all Republicans believe that.

[Source: 2008 Republican National Convention Committee on Arrangements]