Ethanol holds promise but must be watched very carefully. One study showed that it takes 6 units of energy to produce just one unit! (Published on 1 Apr 2005 by Science Daily.) But then the DOE did a study that showed ethanol WAS efficient. The key is that ethanol MUST be produced properly in order for it to have a positive impact. And of course corn is not the only answer, research must continue. The U.S. may be in a position to mfg ethanol from corn but we cannot limit our research to that… other countries need viable answers as well, the key is to be ecologically responsible on a global scale. For example; we wouldn’t want to cut tropical rain forests in order to plant [corn]. Is ethanol going to become the next self serving “business” loaded with subsidies and tax breaks? Who is going to police this, the gvt?
Not to mention all the research in renewable energy that has been squashed by [big business] that cannot turn a quick profit from it.
Give me a break, I remember my grandfather telling me about how he worked in the experimental dept of Curtis Wright where they were working on engines that ran on something other than fossil fuel. You mean to tell me that no reliable alternative has been made in something that’s been researched and studied for a minimum of 75 years. Technology can’t develop battery, solar, something? Oh right, the technology can be developed but who’s going to pay for the restructuring of the mfg plants? and what will happen to the currency “oil?”
I am glad that we appear to be going in a responsible direction but I have very little faith that there will be an honest outcome. There’s too much in the way of a simple, sincere, unabashed solution.
*sigh*
(oh, and when did global warming become a replacement for pollution. I wish the phrase “global warming” would just go away and we could get back to dialogue regarding the general destruction of the planet.)