In a comprehensive overview of alternative energies, The Economist says the most promising energy future is in biofuels.
A study by America’s Departments of Energy and Agriculture suggests that even with only small changes to existing practice, 1.3 billion tonnes of plant matter could be collected from American soil without affecting food production. If this were converted into ethanol using the best technology available today, it would add up to the equivalent of 350 billion litres of petrol, or 65% of the country’s current petrol consumption. And that is before specially bred energy crops and other technological advances are taken into account. If America wants it, biofuel autarky looks more achievable than the oil-based sort.
2 responses so far ↓
Linda Smith // June 25, 2008 at 1:32 am
Without much effort the easements of the federal, state and county highways could be used to grow switchgrass (approximately 32 million acres that we cut already) and existing combines owned by farmers could be used to harvest, thus saving tax payers money because the easements have to be cut anyway and the farmers can earn extra money cutting for the governments.
Kittie Murray // July 18, 2008 at 1:27 pm
We are all missing the point. We have rushed off to build biodiesel and ethanol plants based on seed crops - ignoring the potential of algae. Oil is oil and algal oil is cheap. We could grow all the oil we need if we would re-group and focus on harnessing algal oil. Forget about soybeans and corn - lte’s eat them.
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