Posted on 02/08/2007 7:35:28 PM PST by Kitten Festival
Energy: Could lowly switch grass mow down the petropower tyranny of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez? A U.S.-Brazil ethanol pact signed this week may supply the fuel to do just that.
Chavez's hostile anti-American dictatorship grows worse as his oil earnings pile up. With the U.S. as his best customer, buying about a quarter, or 1.1 million barrels, of Venezuelan crude oil each day, the bitter coda is that every barrel we buy fuels his anti-U.S. actions.
These range from crazed speeches to colonial acquisitions like Bolivia to rogue-state alliances with Iran and Zimbabwe to menacing moves against neighbors like Dominica, Guyana and Colombia with $4 billion in weapons purchases.
High oil prices, low supply and his own expropriations of foreign oil partners in Venezuela only increase Chavez's oil cash and clout. The U.S. has been largely helpless, because it has few alternatives to buying Venezuelan crude.
But a new deal announced with Brazil to pool ethanol technology and produce greater quantities of ethanol in both countries could help. ...
The ultimate aim of the ethanol deal is to create a commodity market. This could give every country in the region alternatives for energy buying. In turn, it will undercut Chavez's monopoly and abusive influence.
Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, who flew to Brazil to iron out the deal, made no secret of that. "Energy has tended to distort the power of some of the states we find to be negative in the world Venezuela, Iran," said Burns, quoted in the Washington Post. "And so the more we can diversify our energy sources and depend less on oil, the better off we will be."
...this signals an impressive new U.S. diplomatic offensive
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
Yeah... Alla that pot smokin and government schools got a majority really really ripe for Gore's fearmongering that makes Y2K look insignificant as a hoax!!!
Yes, Brazil road to energy indepences was primarily from producing its petroleum resources. A lesson we would do good to learn.
They likes crunchy corn ones, not them floppy, soft, limp, mushy, lame flour ones!!! (grin)
I dont know about well said, but Ive learned to pay attention to undersecratary Burns. He's alway in the fray
I try and not listen to el Gordo, but occasionally they'll sneak one in on me. :)
Wull, what's this business about "switch grass?" Have they discovered some hetro marijuana that can switch to homo marijuana on a dime, and then back again??? What???
Hey thackney!
Your right, we need to develop OUR oil.
Sometimes I think we are just holding ours in reserve
Yeah, I guess so. I had always thought he was 'what's wrong with the state department' but I am not so sure of that now, this initiative is something I think I agree with because it's dangerous to Chavez. We will know for sure in a couple of days when Chavez starts screaming and yelling about it. I think that will happen and when it comes, there will be sulfur coming out of Caracas.
I tried cramp bark when I was a kid! I could lift a car!
Now you can't go confusing the argument with facts! ;)
Butanol -- a four carbon alcohol. More compatible with pipelines and engine parts. Possibly higher production efficiencies than ethanol.
But you'll have to sort through it on your own.
I was tryin to think or your handle so's I could ping ya... but thank goodness, here ya came!!!
I guess that says somethin fer bumpin the tread to the top to git the appropriate attenshun!!!
More nukes and less kooks...
I think thats the key here. Venuzuelas oil is heavy and sulphorous.
thackney? can you enlighten us as to the "grade" of venuzuelan oil?
Screw it! Let's dig fer OIL!!! (just to drive Gore insane!)(plus, it'll make his big oil holdings worth less!)
The deal on switch grass is that theyve isolated an enzyme that termites have that breaks down celulose and allows it to be processed into ethanol.
Ooh, I like this idea!
A "sea-snake" power production facility, with enclosed algae ponds soaking up sunshine and producing biodiesel.
What's not to like?
Right on!
Sounds interesting... Do tell, please.
Wait! Is that what a dog does when he has indigestion???
What? You mean the termites are eatin GRASS nowadays??? What's up with that??? You gotta be kiddin me, right???
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