Homestead mailing list

[Don Bowen KI6DIU <don.bowen AT earthlink.net>]

At 10/8/2007, you wrote:

> I'm not against the use of coal, and I'm probably biased being right beside
> the SW Va coal fields, but burning coal to process motor fuel so we can 
> pretend
> that we aren't polluting and releasing fossil carbon is atrocious.

From
http://www.ethanolproducer.com/article-print.jsp?article_id=2068

"Of the 34 plants under construction when the survey was conducted, 17 
responded. Of those, a majority­11­plan on using natural gas. Four plants 
say coal will be the primary energy source. One plant plans on using the 
“dual-fuel” system of natural gas and coal. Finally, one plant says it will 
use a biogas created through cattle manure feedstock from a nearby feedlot 
to power its facility."

"The fact remains, when considering all of the logistical issues ethanol 
projects face, natural gas continues­and likely will continue­to be the 
cheapest energy source per Btu for ethanol plants. The overall instability 
of the natural gas market is the likely root of considering other sources. 
After all, coal is extremely abundant in the western United States. "


Don Bowen              Awl Knotted Up                       KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com