permaculture

["robscott@freeshell.org" <robscott@freeshell.org>]

Chuck makes a very good point. I was referring to traditional ethanol.

Cellulose:
This hasn't been researched conclusively yet, but cellulose ethanol 
looks promising because it can be made out of wood chips, dead bodies, 
whatever. It's the bubble of *promises* which I want to burst. George W. 
Bush tonight refered to cellulose ethanol obliquely when he said we would 
cut US energy consumption of mid-east oil by 75% by adopting alternatives 
such as ethanol made from corn and switchgrass -- he actually said 
"switchgrass" in the state of the union address. Switchgrass ethanol would 
be cellulosic.

OK, quoting Bush isn't the idea...
You raise a good point, and cellulose might become a great resource.

Permaculture is stronger in its premises than in its promises.

Rob Scott
Urbana, IL


> From: "Chuck Learned" <clearned@bminet.com>
> Subject: Re: [permaculture] bursting the ethanol bubble
>
> > I want to burst this bubble.
> >
> > In the best case scenario, petroleum to ethanol ratio was 0.8 : 1.0 
> > when everything was taken into account.
>
> Well if you are going to burst the ethanol bubble then perhaps you can 
> speak to the conversion ratio of the cellulosic ethanol that the article 
> speaks to. It seems there is a significant breakthrough there where they 
> are talking about conversion cost dropping from $5 a barrel to $.20 a 
> barrel. Have you researched this or are you speaking about the 
> traditional method? Chuck Learned