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To: HeadOn
Well, I don't know how much Engineering YOU have, but I'm a Mechanical Engineer, and I just happen to know a little bit about engines. There are many on the horizon that could be pretty happy running on soybeans.

As a mechanical engineer, you should have a decent understanding of math.

average oil production per acre is about 49 gallons
Biodiesel Fuel

The US uses about 373 million gallons of gasoline per day
This Week In Petroleum, Gasoline

The US uses about 169 million gallons of distillate (diesel and fuel oil) per day
This Week In Petroleum, Distillate

Looking at only the distillate, and only trying to produce 25% of the current need is 15.5 billion gallons per year. Or in soybeans production 316 million acres

Where is that going to come from?

79 posted on 11/15/2005 10:50:49 AM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: thackney

All of the gloom and doom comes from the assumption that the oil spigot will be turned off tomorrow, and that there will be an immediate need for something else for us to drive to work the very next morning. Your "analysis" is no different.

Every year, agricultural companies market yield-boosting products that increase crop production. Bio-fuels are not necessarily 100% "bio". Lots of them are mixtures with gasoline. A 50/50 mix would double the length of time we have to use gasoline - IF oil really is depleting at a rate we can't catch.

Every year, labs all over the world make progress in battery capacity. Every year, more and more efficient engines are produced. Ten years ago, there were virtually NO hybrids on the market. Look at that today... There are certain engine designs that could double or triple efficiencies, but are not yet proven.

MY ONLY POINT was, that the SKY IS NOT FALLING. It may be raininig - there may even be a tornado coming, but the SKY IS NOT FALLING.

This whole situation reminds me of a passenger in a car who is screaming that she will be killed by an approaching truck - when all the while, the driver sees the truck and is steering out of the way. Who's driving? Industry. Academia. Entrepreneurs.

All I'm saying is, I don't think that truck is going to hit us. But don't screw up the driver by passing laws that says he can only turn the steering wheel a certain distance, and the he must stomp on the brakes in a certain way.


82 posted on 11/15/2005 11:18:57 AM PST by HeadOn (Don't talk to me about global warming unless you don't own a car.)
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To: thackney
You are correct.

Kuwait has 10% of proven worlds oil reserves. They just announced that their largest field is now pumping only 1.7, down from 2.0 million barrels a day. The field is rapidly running down.

Chevron announced last year that their proven reserves where 20% overstated.

The hand writing is on the wall..

139 posted on 11/16/2005 5:45:36 AM PST by OregonRancher (illigitimus non carborundum)
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