Quote:
Originally Posted by TurboDave
And to add one more grain of salt to the corn based ethanol problems, here's one more.
There was an article in our local paper this weekend talking about corn ethanol (the only present day viable technology for producing ethanol) as a general replacement for imported oil. The one of many things that the backers haven't maybe thought about much.
Our corn production is being pushed to the absolute limit, and as corn based ethanol (now in virtually all gasoline at at least a 10% concentration) starts growing even more.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A DROUGHT HITS THE CORN BELT???????
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Dave, I'll tell you one thing that I know for sure. You will not hear anyone with any knowledge in the ethanol industry that will tell you that ethanol is the cure-all for all the energy problems we have. Ethanol is not a "general replacement" for oil, and has
NEVER intended to be. Anyone with that notion has no clue. There isn't enough grain in the nation to accomplish that, and I don't mean just corn. It's going to take many other technologies, wind, solar, water, etc, etc, and even then oil will still be a big part of the energy matrix.
Dave, what is your knowledge of our current corn crop from 2007? The USA exported more corn this year, and we are reported to have the biggest surplus than we've had in years also. Where is your hard data that proves out what you've said? Where is all of this strain you speak of? The biggest reason corn is so high is because the wheat crop from last year was down worldwide and they're turning to corn for the shortfall. This has been stated already in this thread, but it doesn't seem like people want to read the responses.
Here's the problem. A major majority of the types of progaganda that are out there are being funded by the oil companies and their record earnings. Have you taken the time to read some of the rebuttals to all of the negative press?
Just as NovaDerrick said, you are going to believe what you want. It also sounds like you believe everything you read without having an educated opinion from both sides.
What happens when a drought hits the corn belt? Well, God forbid, hopefully cellulosic technology gets going and can make up some of the shortfall. If not, we'll turn to oil. No one will really know until it happens.