Posted on 08/07/2014 8:54:18 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
U.S. aerospace giant Boeing says it is working with South African Airways and a Dutch biofuel company to make jet fuel from tobacco seeds.
The Dutch firm, SkyNRG, is boosting its production in South Africa of a hybrid, nicotine-free, tobacco crop called Solaris with “biofuel production expected… in the next few years,” the three companies said in a statement.
“Initially, oil from the plant’s seeds will be converted into jet fuel. In coming years, Boeing expects emerging technologies to increase South Africa’s aviation biofuel production from the rest of the plant,” added the firms.
Aviation biofuel, made from renewable resources such as plants, can reduce carbon emissions by 50 to 80%.
Airlines have flown more than 1,500 flights powered by biofuel globally since it was approved in 2011.
Earlier this year, Boeing and research partners in the Middle East said they would start field trials after recording progress in making biofuel from desert plants fed with seawater.
Critics of biofuels say they are often manufactured from food crops, or compete for land and water with food crops, driving up food prices.
Wow, this is quite a week for tobacco.
Smokers will be inhaling the exhaust from airplane tail pipes for that nicotine high.
How much is this costing the taxpayers?
Exactly how much tobacco will we have to grow?
As long as it’s nicotine-free.
Uh...maybe the entire continent (not “nation,” as Joe “Dufus” Biden calls it) of Africa? Hard to imagine that this will be sustainable...and I work for that particular aerospace company!
Go for hemp instead...the chemtrails will make everyone happy.
Sorry, no chemtrails. Each jet aircraft will be followed behind by a giant smokeless ashtray, also moving 600 mph.
They look like a spot on gnat crap, that's how small they are.
The cost of flying will go up if they are depending on these...
I hope it doesn’t phuck the jet engines like ethanol phucks up my lawn power and boat engines...
Air Force One should only fly on tobacco fuel. And be grounded until the fuel is ready.
Pipe dream.
Isn’t tobacco one of the most rapacious plants one can grow? Lore around Virginia and Maryland is that it pretty much strips the land of nutrients in a few short seasons and renders it unfit for further farming until the land is replenished.
TC
I saw what you did there. LOL
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.