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Old 02-14-2006, 01:20 PM
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Wagner,
Interesting article...thanks. I've read some arts. on this topic, but that one was pretty even handed and informative.

Couple of hurdles to get over:
-refining the stuff; not quite as "nasty" or NIMBY sensitive, but an ethanol refinery in town, in not anyone's fave. That, and these are not WalMarts put up in 10 months time.
-that 30% more "fuel" vs. gasoline, is actually the lowest number I've seen. Livable, but would make for some serious sized fuel tanks on any vehicle other than an around town grocery getter.
-I still have no handle on the true, overall "costs" of farming the crop(s), harvesting, making the mash, and the "process", in terms of real energy outlay...stuff I've read suggests that it is considerable, in terms of oil and/or nat. gas consumed in the task of ground to crop to alcohol pouring out the end of the "refinery". Sorta like a nuclear powered chain saw in terms of energy overuse.
-The real prob is us, as in the USGov't: if we are looking to, or waiting for "them" to do something that expidites or ameliorates the let's get it done process, we are kidding ourselves. The gov't could not organize or put on a cost effective and successful kids' b'day party, imo.

But, the oil usage Jones we have is not going away or even diminishing...

If some people or group(s) out there in ThinkLand has some good solutions that are timely, cost effecient, workable and "doable" in the next decade, I'd love to be pointed to their stuff.

If the world isn't blown up or at best, so fragmentized and terrorized in the next decade or so, I still feel for the 20-40 sumpin's here and, my Kidz and grandkid in terms of what "energy" will be avail and how and how much.

Soapbox off...but, you said you wanted some comments.
Thanks again for the art.
BR, Ol'UncMotor
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