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I was just reading about Brazil's ethanol program. First of all, its start up was almost entirely government funded (multi-billions of $$$) -- including huge subsidies to sugar producers - which continue. Which leads to the second point. Ethanol made from sugar is 30% cheaper to produce than that made from corn. We do not have a sugar industry in the U.S. anymore so sugar would have to be imported. Brazil has the perfect climate for growing sugar. Or we'd have to use corn entirely, which would make the price more expensive.

Lastly, cars will not operate in cold climates with gas containing more than 10% ethanol. This is the one real problem as a large majority of U.S. citizens live in climates which remain cold for half the year.

Sometimes reports only tell you the positive points and you have to go looking for the rest of the info.

Not that this might be a partial solution to our energy problems, but it is not a cure all and gas with ethanol will be more expensive than what we are paying now.

Subsidies notwithstanding, the program worked. Somebody in Brazil was looking ahead, got a program going and kept at it. Surely something could have been differently here. The ball was dropped.

I was just reading about Brazil's ethanol program. First of all, its start up was almost entirely government funded (multi-billions of $$$) -- including huge subsidies to sugar producers - which continue.

Brazil has stopped all direct subidies to sugar producers.

Lastly, cars will not operate in cold climates with gas containing more than 10% ethanol.

I beg your pardon. I live in Montana and run 85-15 gas-ethanol in my Chevy truck year round. It purrs like a kitten and starts with ease in sub-zero temperatures.

We do not have a sugar industry in the U.S. anymore so sugar would have to be imported.

Tell that to the hundreds of sugar beet farmers here in Michigan - also tell all the workers at the sugar refineries, churning out sugar by the tons every hour.

Ethanol made from sugar is 30% cheaper to produce than that made from corn.

Bravo Sierra

Sugar only works in Brazil because they have very low wages; third world safety standards, and the ethanol plants are based on the sugar plantations. Unlike corn, sugar beets and sugar cane must be processed within 24 hours of harvesting; therefore the ethanol plants must be at the location where it is grown.

Also, many people are killed in the Brazilian ethanol plants each year because there are no safety regulations and the plants and equipment are very poor quality construction. Explosions are common.

Brazil is one of the few places in the world where ethanol from sugar cane or sugar beets is profitable.

From an economic standpoint you can not profitably make ethanol from sugar if the cost of sugar is more than 6 cents a lb. The reason corn works in the US is because our harvesting is highly mechanized and the distribution infrastructure highly developed. There is virtually no sugar production anymore in the US.