The elections are over. Now we get to listen to endless analysis. From ethanol circles, the analysis is hopeful. Most are expecting the newly balanced Congress will not drastically change policy regarding renewable fuels.

Perhaps the tide is slowly changing. Did you notice that "big bad corn ethanol" did not become the focus of campaign rhetoric? Of course, energy policy was hardly mentioned at all.

I also hear a hopeful note in a Nov. 6 column by Thomas Friedman in the NY Times titled "Long Live Lady Luck:"

"Finally, we need to dry up the funding for terrorist groups, and the mosques, schools and charities that support them. And that means working to end our addiction to oil. It is disgusting to listen to Republican politicians lecturing President Obama about how he has to stay the course in Afghanistan while they don't have an ounce of courage to vote to increase the gasoline tax or renewable energy standards that would reduce the money we're sending to the people our soldiers are fighting."

Maybe, just maybe, people are starting to get it. Renewable fuels help our energy security and displaces foreign oil.

We're putting the December issue to bed this week. We have several stories that indicate more change—a look at ethanol markets and how they are affecting the gasoline market and comments from six industry leaders on their outlook and perspectives on the year ahead. The issue should be posted online next week, and in the mail within a few days after that.

Right now, I'm feeling like enjoying the present. We've had unseasonably warm weather, and sat on the porch Saturday afternoon enjoying the sunny, fall day. That's unheard of here on the northern plains. We've never sat out on the porch in November before. Usually, we've dug out the winter coats and wearing scarves and gloves by now. Winter will already feel shorter.

Can't help but think that such balmy weather is going to be followed by a blast of winter. The average temperature over a year's time historically only varies by a degree or two. (Even global warming predictions are just a couple of degrees warmer than normal.) An abnormally warm October and early November means we'll have to have some abnormally cold winter weather.

We can also anticipate spring floods. September was abnormally wet up here. Potholes are full of water and streams and rivers are full as well. There won't be much holding capacity in the spring. Spring runoff, of course, is as much determined by when and how fast the spring melt comes.

But first comes winter. Given the goofy weather of this past year, gyrating from extreme to extreme, we can only expect more goofy weather this winter. I'll keep you posted.