[kellynla]

[AbeKrieger]

Why don't we require ethanol plants to become self-sustaining and use only additional ethanol in production? Economy of scale. Self-sustaining. Efficiencies will become part of the equation.

[Zavien Doombringer]

Our moonshiners in in appalachia didn't have an issue :)
Infact, isn't that where NASCAR got started - by the Runners?

[Realism]

There is only one catch: Turning corn into ethanol takes energy.

Gasoline and diesel fuel spontaneously falls from the sky ready for use?

[Mr. K]

I've tasted some distilled corn that was too dam delicious to put into a car engine

[fix]

The oil companies propaganda campaign is in full swing. Look for them to make a complete 180 when they are ready to start producing ethanol themselves.

[one more state]

How efficiently can hydrogen be produced?

[Zavien Doombringer]

The only issue with running alcohol in your tank is alcohol eats up seals. So, if you plan on changing out your standard rubber seals for silicon, go for it....

[FreePaul]

There is only one catch: Turning corn into ethanol takes energy.

That's a pretty big catch. I wonder if someone just now told Mr. Wald about that or if he finally listened to someone who was not claiming that the sky is falling (or warming).

[from occupied ga]

The endless fields of corn in the Midwest can be distilled into endless gallons of ethanol,

What total bullshit. The author of the little bit of bullcrap should know that the fields in the midwest aren't "endless" nor is their capacity to produce ethanol.

[LIConFem]

Just stuff Ted Kennedy in a huge wine press. Ethanol in unlimited supply.

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

"There is only one catch: Turning corn into ethanol takes energy. For every gallon that an ethanol manufacturing plant produces, it uses the equivalent of almost two-fifths of a gallon of fuel"

This is fine as long as you can ignore the facts. Look south to Brazil. Over 75% of the fuel is ethanol.

The media has never been known for letting facts get in the way of a good "story".

[Courdeleon02]

We need to move as fast as possible to develop alternative fuel sources and renewable sources of energy. We should have been doing this back in the 70s. It is necessary for the future of the planet and to end our dependence on Arab dictatorships. It will also help to alleviate our "balance of payments problem".For too long the self serving oil companies have held back development. If they are smart they will turn their research and development laboratories toward the direction of alternative fuels. Its time to diversify if they want to survive as viable corporate entities.

[hgro]

This is just one more myth from the petroleum industry. The production of ethanol produces products other than ethanol which all of the "experts" that generate these articles knocking ethanol choose to ignore.

Look up the recent article from U.C. Berkeley that confirmed the practicality of ethanol production from corn.

[hgro]

In a process called partial oxidation, the steam breaks apart the plant's carbohydrates into two gases: elemental hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Both burn nicely as a substitute for natural gas.

Wald needs to take a chemistry course.

[mysterio]

If innovation could make ethanol an option, that would be great. I'm tired of seeing our energy dollars going to those who would see our nation destroyed.

Plus, my grandmother farms corn. And she's a really great grandmother.

[bert]

The solution is going to be nuclear stills. The by product steam will turn generators. That will be an energy twofur.

Ethanol and juice. If you charge for the ethanol, the juice is free. If you charge for the electriucity, the ethanol energy is free.

[Central Scrutiniser]

You can grow corn much faster, and with much less water hydroponically. You get twice as many crops, use up less space , save water and its easier to control for disease and damage.

[Dracula]

Excellent article regarding ethanol production. I am vice president of an architect / engineering firm. My firm works with clients to develop alternative energy systems.

We always look into developing more than one form of alternative energy. We contend that the ideal situation is to have a biodiesel and ethanol plant located on top of a coal bed or coal mine methane source , accompanied by wind power, solar power, and a hydrogen cell.

The technology is currently available to derive energy from nearly any bio - source ( anaerobic digester systems, pyrolastic conversion systems, your own ethanol or biodiesel, and many other sources.

We all know their is no "free" energy. We all know energy cannot be created nor destroyed, only converted. We need to focus on not just creating energy for sale, but to serve our own processes.

Again, excellent observations. I am located in an area rich in alternative fuel resources. What is alarming to me is that the rush is apparently on to see how much of these resources we can sell at a minuscule return. An example would be the farmer who sells his corn to Mr. Big for $ 2.00 per bushel, which is in turn converted to 2.7 gallons of ethanol, which he buys from Mr. Big for $ 2.30 per gallon.
Not good economics. We need more "grass roots' alternative energy development.

Thank you for your observations.

[nightdriver]

"Ethanol production is expected to hit 5 billion gallons this year..."

That's a lot of hooch!!