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September 7, 2006
An Ethanol Success Story?
I've been having an e-mail dialog with a reader about the wide-spread adoption of Ethanol (from sugar cane) in Brazil ("As Brazil Fills Up on Ethanol, It Weans Off Energy Imports"), and their ability to reduce dependence on petroleum.
The national will and industry to pull this off are impressive.
The question I have, on which the article is silent, is whether production of sugar cane in Brazil is sustainable or not? Is it grown as a monoculture as corn is in our midwest? What inputs does it need?
It would be great to have an example of sustainable biomass production being used for ethanol.
Posted by Chris Smith at 3:00 AM
Comments
September 7, 2006 2:20 PM
Adron Says:
I'm in the same boat on that as you. I'd really like to know more about what they use as a whole, how it is produced, etc., etc...
If you find any good info, please send it along to me. :)
September 7, 2006 4:18 PM
dick BARNARD Says:
I brought up Brazil ethanol to get the data I submitted to you, there is more on the site I did not report
September 11, 2006 3:52 AM
jim karlock Says:
Be sure to see this month's Consumer Reports on ethanol.
Thanks
JK
September 18, 2006 11:01 AM
Myles Twete Says:
I just attended the Steam Automobile Club of America's Annual Meet, Symposium and Time Trials (drag races) in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Among the discussions was mention of ethanol, which in the Michiana region (and much of the midwest) is a pretty big deal as they grow lots of corn and produce ethanol from it. The general consensus on ethanol at this conference was that ethanol from cane in Brazil makes economic and environmental sense in that it doesn't take gobs of energy to produce. Apparently this is not the case with corn, where it was stated that it takes some 5 barrels of mideast oil to yield one barrel of ethanol.
Maybe this is why the current administration is pushing ethanol.
