[Marxism] Ethanol and imperialism, internal combustion and electricity

[Anthony Boynton <northbogota@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello everyone:

Ethanol is a ridiculously inefficient way of producing
energy because it requires more energy inputs than the
output it yields.

However, that misses the real point of the rising
popularity of ethanol a substitute for petroleum.

Ethanol is an economically effieicent substitute for
petroleum. Sugar based ethanol, according to the
Economist, becomes profitable once petroleum prices
rise above $40 something/barrel.

Corn based ethanol becomes profitable once petroleum
based prices rise above $60 something/barrel.

The most important energy input for the production of
ethanol is the energy used to provide that in the
distilation process. This energy can be provided by
buring wood, as in moon shining, burning coal, or from
any source of electrical power (nuclear for instance).


It would be more energy efficient if any of these
sources could be used to directly provide power - but
they can not for the most important use of petroleum:
internal combustion engines in cars, trucks, and
buses.

Ethanol is not just an energy substitute, it is a
substitute for gas in the gas tank. It is a way that
autombilie based transportation systems can be
sustained even after petroleum scarcity makes it an
absurdity.

Electricfication of all transportation is a much more
energy efficient proposal. But it would require a
complete reworking of the industrial strucutre of the
world economy, which is underpinned by the chain which
goes soemthine like this: growth of urban petty
bourgeoisie world wide - growth of demand for
automobilies - growth of demand for petroleuem or
petroleum substitutes.

British Petroleum´'s strategy of redefining itself as
an energy, rather than a petroleum, company is no
joke.

The fact that tropical countries, led by Brazil are
rapdicly increasing sugar production to provide
ethanol for car fuel is no joke either. currently 40%
of Brazil's vehicle fuel consumption is ethanol.

Here in Colombia ethanol now provides 5% of vehicle
fuel, natural gas another 5%. Both are programmed to
increase to about 20% in the next five years.

The fact that sugar based ethanol is so much more
economically efficient than corn based ethanol is very
miportant, and very interesting.

This could totally fuck up the Iowa corn farmers'
dreams of becoming the next Exxon.

It could also mean that Jamaica's subsidized sugar
could once again become profitable and replace
tourism.

Which would have a lot of political implications for
the economic potential of the world's tropical zones
in the next decade, and hence for the political
affection of imperialism for these countries.

All the best, Anthony



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

________________________________________________
YOU MUST clip all extraneous text before replying to a message.
Send list submissions to: Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism