Should our biofuels come from Oregon or the Midwest?

My answer: NOWHERE! Bifuels are a big scam -- now not only will we be growing non-edible nursery plants in Oregon and grass seed for pretty lawns but fuel for cars? Is this a wise use of resources? Maybe the city dwellers wouldn't mind their local parks being used for biodiesel production?

For a perspective on how community scale ethanol could work, you may be interested in hearing Permaculture designer David Blume speak tonight (10/3/07) at 7:00 at St. Francis.

For more info see: David Blume: Alcohol Can Be A Gas!

Perfect, why don't they convert all the wineries into BioFuel production? The alcoholics would be upset.

I tend to agree with Greg Tompkins, at least as it relates to ethanol. It is a big scam. Pay the farmers to grow corn for fuel instead of for food thereby increasing the costs of what we eat since corn is a stable in the food chain and subsidies for to grow corn for fuel is fleecing the taxpayers. Then use taxpayer dollars to subsidize the costs of production – the second fleecing of taxpayers. And since ethanol can not be transported by pipeline (it is too corrosive), it must be transported by a fuel consuming mode of transport thereby again costing taxpayers, the users and the environment. The latter also increases the transport costs of food. Finally, with ethanol or an ethanol-gasoline mix, miles per gallon are reduced again scamming the user. All said, locally produced biofuels are probably less of a scam to consumers than those transported long distances.

However, what if as a people looked at all other consumer goods as to where they were produced and weaned our reliance off from all of these foreign goods. That would mean no more foreign cars, bicycles, electronics, toys, clothing, furniture, foreign produced food products, etc. If people truly believe in a global economy, then oil should not be considered any different and singled out.

Pay the farmers to grow corn for fuel instead of for food thereby increasing the costs of what we eat since corn is a stable in the food chain and subsidies for to grow corn for fuel is fleecing the taxpayers

Mexico has already started to experience pain with the increase in the price of corn. Tortillas are made from corn & it is their staple crop. Ironically the price of tequila is going up due to a shortage caused by farmers plowing under their agave so they can grow corn for ethanol. I wish someone up here would plow under all the wineries and use the acreage for biofuels instead.

"I wish someone up here would plow under all the wineries and use the acreage for biofuels instead."

A perfect example of your concern for "land owner's rights."

Thanks, I needed a laugh today. :)

A perfect example of your concern for "land owner's rights."

Maybe "Global Warming" will take care of my concerns:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aM6OQ992MWG8&refer=us

It looks like Global Warming made the industry a possibility in the first place but it would have to progress north (B.C.) if the warming does, in fact, continue.

Anyway back to topic, I am very concerned about the prospect of raising food costs if ethanol and biodiesel production takes hold. Maybe the farmers in the valley could grow for biofuel instead of pretty lawn grass seed and ornamental nursery bushes that get sent all over the country.