Ed Huntress wrote:

"Cliff" wrote in message
...

On Tue, 3 Jan 2006 14:50:31 -0500, "Ed Huntress"
wrote:


wrote in message
...

In misc.survivalism Dave Lyon wrote:


Unfortunately, ethanol is probably not a long term solution. We

simply

don't

have enough crop land to supply our energy needs.


No one souce is a "long term solution". Not even oil.

Sources I've seen over the past few months, DOE-related, say up to 6% of
motor-fuel consumption could come from biodiesel (others say this would
require an all-out effort); 5% from corn-based ethanol; up to 12% from
cellulosic ethanol.

Every little bit helps.

Global warming?


That's an interesting question. Alternative-fuel promoters often talk about
the advantage of these biological sources in terms of CO2 production,
because they supposedly sequester as much CO2 in growing as they release in
burning.

Only the burning of the ethanol. In fact, the CO2 from the fermentation
is collected and sold as a part of the production of the ethanol plant.


However, there is a (probably complex) heat-cycling issue, too. If you let
corn stover compost, it gives off heat. If you burn it, it gives off heat.
If you convert it to ethanol and burn the ethanol, it gives off heat.

Quick now, calculus students...

--
Ed Huntress







--
"A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them;
the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences." - Proverbs 22:3