[Marxism] Re: Energy & sugar cane

[dwalters@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Rod, producing from using ethanol as the energy source of the product won't work
simply because all known processes, at least producing it on an industrial
level, has a negative energy co-efficient. That's the point why it's "so bad"
and can cause more problems than it's worth. This is not true, obvously, with
petroleum based fuels.

However...going back to Anthony's main point....that one can use other sources,
say hydro power, to make fuel from sugar cain or corn, which itself is
non-polluting and renewable and whose output, as of now, can not be directly
used in transportation, does make sense. The point is to cut petroleum out of
the picture and, maybe methane too.

Envriormental effects aside, we can't use hydro power, solar power, nuclear
power, or coal power in cars. So we need to manufacture the bridge energy for
transportaiotn. If the total sum of pollutants and other not-so-obvious effects
on society is *less* than the extraction, refining and usage of petroleum fossil
fuel, then it's worth trying. That is what in large part the debate is about.
Does ethanol fit that bill? I really don't know but it doesn't sound like it
even taking into consideration Anthony's well structured explanation.

Like you however, I don't believe the peak-oil folks either. Fossil fuel running
out I don't believe is going to happen any time soon. Getting scarcer? Maybe.
North America can run on coal for hundreds of years if all we're talking about
is energy for residences and commerical operation, if we want to live with he
pollution. And, there is essentially enough nuclear power forever. So the real
question is that the issue at hand is the distillation of energy for
transportation and how to resolve THAT problem.

David



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