Replies

Look no further than Brazil for a great example of energy Independence.

Yes, Brazil gained energy independence by producing their domestic resources. Their oil exploration and production made great improvements over the last couple decades. Ethanol provides about 15% of the countries transportation fuel.

Brazil Sugar Ethanol Update – February 2006, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service

"Ethanol provides about 15% of the countries transportation fuel."

Your link says, "Ethanol use has now expanded to account for thirty-seven percent (by volume) of fuel used by passenger cars." That's pretty impressive, and since that data was published I've read where government sources in Brazil are now claiming that ethanol satisfies better than 40% of Brazil's automotive fuel needs.

Maybe I'm just not reading carefully enough, but I cannot find in the page you linked us to where it says that ethanol only provides 15% of their transportation fuel. I did see where they said that it accounted for 37% of the fuel used in passenger cars, and I believe that was as of 2005. Below that was a fuel consumption chart showing how many liters of diesel, gasoline and ethanol where sold, and if you do the math for 2005 ethanol accounted for better than 18% of sales, and one would think a lot of that diesel and some of that gasoline was burned in other applications besides for transportation purposes. I'd like to know how you came up with your 15% figure.

Your post nailed it on the Brazil ‘energy independence’ debate.

I heard Clack Howard repeating leftist lies today, singing the praises of Brazil’s energy program. Heck, I was hoping that he was right. But [sigh] it looks like he should have looked up his data by adding freerepublic.com to a google search before making a fool of himself. A nice guy, but he’s got a few blind spots I guess.

Thank you for the post, thackney. — FRegards ....