Compare the number of barrel of oil that we use today versus the capacity for biofuel. It does not make sense. What I think will happen is that in 100k years time we will use BioFuels to supplement the rare fossil fuels for powered flight. Everyone else will be using horse and cart / electric motors charged up at their local nuclear power station.Assuming of course N and S Korea have not blown us all up by then.
used to take mrs dash to task for this.There was a massive spike in the cost of grains a couple of years back when production was shifted to corn for ethanol for biofuel.The cost of flour in my local supermarket trebled.
I agree with rmax. There's not enough arable land to feed both people and power. Current global levels of oil consumption represent the equivalent calories needed to feed about 50-60 billion people.The problem is that biofuel technology now exists and unless it is outlawed, it will be used. If/when oil becomes more expensive, people will convert farm lands from food production to fuel production. Food prices will track oil prices.
QuoteOriginally posted by: zetakelp seems like a more logical/sustainable source of biomass/fuelHmmm.. Is there enough of it? I thought kelp only grew near shorelines in the shallows.
QuoteOriginally posted by: zetaI think it can be grown anywhere, you just need a weight/float and string bwtnNice! I'd imagine that one could build solar-thermal dehydrators to remove the excess water, too.
You don't care about the hard-working, virtuous American farmer? You want to take away what he does? His life is in your hands and he is waiting. He is like a little furry pet and you have the power. Give, don't take.
QuoteOriginally posted by: ppauperFuels from corn waste not better than gasThe EPA are (still) defining the US RFS for 2014. Supporters from every part (pros/cons biofuels, certain types of biofuels) bring their own arguments.