choices, we've got choices
While the debate rages on whether we need to invest in alternate fuel sources, here is an interesting overveiw of some possible replacements for fossil fuels. Solar energy, biomass, wind &, geothermal energy, fuel cell cars, hydrogen, nuclear, space-based solar power, etc. This is a really good primer on the basics, with not too much opinion muddying it up.
This article has some good opinion in it, comparing our oil dependence to Brazil's. In 1979, Brazil started pouring $ into ethanol-cars, and currently 50% of new cars sold in Brazil are mix-fuel (petroleum and ethanol) . The most amazing claim is that oil imports made up only 10% of their energy comsumption in 2002, compared to 85% in 1978. They claim it will drop to nearly zero this year.
Brazil suggests we (the US) export our corn for consumption, and import their ethanol, both to save money and reduce our dependence on foreign oil (yeah, but then wouldn't we just become dependent on foreign ethanol?) . The plan isn't likely to go over here, mainly because Bush is promoting hydrogen technology for his Freedomcar. I encourage you to read the author's conclusion (of the Brazil article).
posted by lisa @ 7:01 PM
3 Comments:
A very thought-provoking article, but the author bases his opinion of the Brazilian ethanol program on the opinion of one politician. I wouldn't want Strom Thurmond's thoughts on race to be published as the American norm...
There are also many other assumptions in the article. Ethanol is better than hydrogen. The government should be investing in alternate fuels. It also fails to investigate the unintended consequences of the Brazilian policies. Are autos prohibitively expensive in Brazil - I doubt that the average family there owns 2 cars...
I liked the article about Brazil, assuming that it is all factual. It sounds like they have gone a long way in 26 years. “Brazil’s reliance on oil imports has plummeted from 85 percent of its energy consumption in 1978 to 10 percent in 2002, according to that country’s National Petroleum Agency. And this year, it will be nearly zero, Brazilian officials say.” Is the United States smart enough to drop its ego and learn from the successes of other countries? They need to not police what they’ve learned onto other countries so much and solve some of our own problems.
I'm surprised the author didn't want the money raised from the 50% tax on Hummers' gasoline to purchase a hybrid for anyone who doesn't own a car.
A
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