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Biofuels are no cure-all for energy needs
Pioneer Press ^
| 2-19-06
| Edward Lotterman
Posted on 02/25/2006 7:51:26 AM PST by Rakkasan1
When discussing economic policies it is important to not let rhetoric overpower reality. That happened in a recent, much-reprinted New York Times article that argued "endless fields of corn in the Midwest can be distilled into endless gallons of ethanol
that could end any worldwide oil shortage
and free the United States from dependence on foreign energy." The story went on to discuss how much energy goes into producing ethanol. But it failed to substantiate its lead assertion of "endless gallons of ethanol" that might "free the United States" from oil imports. The United States is an agricultural powerhouse, but even common crops like corn are not endless. In 2004, we harvested just under 12 billion bushels of corn, the most in several years. One bushel of corn yields about 2.7 gallons of ethanol. So if we processed all the corn we produce, we would have 32 billion gallons of fuel alcohol.
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bigoil; biofuel; biofuels; brazil; bush; corn; cornholio; e85; energy; ethanol; ford; generalmotors; globalwarming; gm; oil; petroleum; soy; sugarcane
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1
posted on
02/25/2006 7:51:31 AM PST
by
Rakkasan1
To: Rakkasan1
---good sense from a surprising source--
2
posted on
02/25/2006 7:54:10 AM PST
by
rellimpank
(Don't believe anything about firearms or explosives stated by the mass media---NRABenefactor)
To: Rakkasan1
The same BS mindset convinces the left's minions that it is useless to drill ANWAR for the same reasons.
We'll never get anything close to energy independance because everybody poopoos all the little things that add-up.
3
posted on
02/25/2006 7:56:38 AM PST
by
VeniVidiVici
(What? Me worry?)
To: rellimpank
One bu corn = less than 2 gallons of alcohol.
To: Rakkasan1
Why would the laws of supply and demand not apply here. I imagine if we decided to depend heavily upon this for a fuel source, a lot more corn would be grown.
5
posted on
02/25/2006 8:00:06 AM PST
by
freeangel
( (free speech is only good until someone else doesn't like what you say))
To: VeniVidiVici
Bingo. There are days when I wonder if half this forum isn't made up of oil spokes-holes.
Nothing is the complete answer. There are a number of partial answers. Even if we cut our dependence by 30-50%, would that be a good thing?
Hell yes.
6
posted on
02/25/2006 8:00:13 AM PST
by
DoughtyOne
(If you don't want to be lumped in with those who commit violence in your name, take steps to end it.)
To: Rakkasan1
"endless fields of corn in the Midwest can be distilled into endless gallons of ethanol Thus speaks the provincial New Yorker. Reminds me of that Saul Steinberg cartoon in the New Yorker:
7
posted on
02/25/2006 8:00:33 AM PST
by
Cicero
(Marcus Tullius)
To: Rakkasan1
It may not be a cure all but it will help. It just got to produced on the whole supply and demand system. However I'm all for drilling in ANWAR and anywhere else we have oil and natural gas.
My main thing is my wish to watch the mideast starve themselves back to pre 1800s population levels.
8
posted on
02/25/2006 8:01:49 AM PST
by
cripplecreek
(Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
To: Rakkasan1
"But we should not get carried away with our own rhetoric. Grain-derived fuel alcohol is not a panacea for all energy and environmental problems."
President Bush specifically mentioned "cellulistic" dervied fuels, not grains. This would dramtically increase the alchohol production in the US if not elsewhere.
9
posted on
02/25/2006 8:03:50 AM PST
by
cicero2k
To: VeniVidiVici
We'll never get anything close to energy independance because everybody poopoos all the little things that add-up. And we will nerer get anything close to energy independance if we are not even capable of basic math.
Ethanol will help. The US should expand this resource and continue to invest R&D dollars to help it. But it will come nowhere close to replacing our transportation energy needs. It can only be part of a much larger solution.
10
posted on
02/25/2006 8:04:28 AM PST
by
thackney
(life is fragile, handle with prayer)
To: VeniVidiVici
Every little bit helps is true! Rain comes in droplets.
He articulates his objection, assuming that grain fuels are to be used straight, without mixing with fossil fuels.
11
posted on
02/25/2006 8:04:37 AM PST
by
ThirstyMan
(hysteria: the elixir of the Left that trumps all reason)
To: Rakkasan1
How would you like to have a man sized sirloin @ Charlie's Stake House right now?? AND... I'll have the house made Blue Cheese dressing.
Energy? oil for cars... Nukes to heat/cool homes and water. Quite simple actually.
12
posted on
02/25/2006 8:06:53 AM PST
by
Bubba
(Cut terriorists three ways... Long, Deep & Continuously!)
To: Eric in the Ozarks
How much diesel does a farmer use to produce those 2 gallons? I see popcorn and roasting ears prices going up myself.
13
posted on
02/25/2006 8:07:05 AM PST
by
Sybeck1
To: Cicero
Thanks, I remember this cover. Interesting how a "cartoon" or picture can contain so much concise truth.
I suppose Steinberg could also do one for Los Angeles and San Francisco who are just as smugly myopic, self-righteous and condescending.
14
posted on
02/25/2006 8:09:37 AM PST
by
garyhope
(Peace through superior firepower, A-10's, C-130 gunships, rational thought and pragmatism.)
To: DoughtyOne; VeniVidiVici
Absolutely. I am producing my own biodiesel and it has certainly eliminated
my dependence on foreign oil.
In reading on this forum I have come to the conclusion that some folks equate alternative fuels with tree-huggers and close their minds from that point forward.
To: VeniVidiVici
everybody poopoos
now if we can convert that.....
16
posted on
02/25/2006 8:11:48 AM PST
by
ronnied
(we are the only animals that bare our teeth in greeting...)
To: freeangel
A Canadian company has developed a process that uses the garbage parts of the corn such as the stalk & cob to mfg. ethanol. The US and this company are now in talks to bring this technology into the US by 2007. Sounds promising to me.
17
posted on
02/25/2006 8:12:00 AM PST
by
alice_in_bubbaland
(New Jersey gets the corrupt government it deserves!)
To: Rakkasan1
In time technical advances will provide better energy sources such as better batteries, ethanol and other substitutes for oil.
In the meantime we should proceed on a crash basis to developer offshore and Alaskan oil sources to gain complete energy independence on foreign oil.
That is the key. It's unwise not to realize that our whole involvement in the Middle East is because of our dependence on oil. It's fine to talk about democracy etc., but the nub is oil and it is disingenuous to pretend otherwise.
If the Middle East did not have large oil reserves it would be of interest only to National Geographis and archaeologists.
To: thackney
At work, I keep hearing that it takes more than a gallon of oil based fuel to produce a gallon of ethanol based fuel. I don't know if this is fact or fiction but FR ought to be able to dig it up. Does anyone have info on this?
To: freeangel
Cost-Benefit. Oil is still relatively cheap
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