Re: [asa] Re: global warming

Hi Jack,

The question of whether or not biofuels produce more
CO2 (and other greenhouse gas) emissions than the
fuels they would be displacing is a complicated
question...it depends on the specifics of the
life-cycle, the type of feedstock chosen, etc. The
benefit of cellulosic ethanol though, is precisely
that they DON'T take corn out of the food supply--the
feedstocks would be corn byproducts/waste (i.e. the
stalk), switch grass, and other woody-materials.
They're getting very close to being able to do this
commercially--the key to making this happen is getting
the enzymes and the processing procedures tuned in an
optimal manner. I wouldn't be surprised if cellulosic
became the dominant base for ethanol production within
the next 5-10 years.

In Christ,
Christine (ASA Member)

--- Jack <drsyme@cablespeed.com> wrote:

> Biofuels wont help with the CO2 emissions. At this
> point dont they consume
> more energy than they produce? Cellulosic ethanol
> might be better, but
> taking corn out of the food supply just seems stupid
> to me. And now with
> the floods in the midwest, no one is going to be
> able to afford milk, eggs,
> and meat as it is.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "j burg" <hossradbourne@gmail.com>
> To: "Jack" <drsyme@cablespeed.com>
> Cc: "David Campbell" <pleuronaia@gmail.com>; "Rich
> Blinne"
> <rich.blinne@gmail.com>;
> "AmericanScientificAffiliation" <asa@calvin.edu>
> Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 9:23 AM
> Subject: Re: [asa] Re: global warming
>
>
> > On 6/14/08, Jack <drsyme@cablespeed.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> So, there is no alternative to burning fossil
> fuels to generate
> >> electricity?
> >> Oil obviously wont last forever, so we will have
> to find an alternative.
> >> Or is there no hope and we are doomed to a stone
> age existence?
> >>
> > ... nuclear seems to be the closest
> >> technology we have to solving both of these
> problems, albeit with its own
> >> problems. Unfortunately, it may be too late for
> nuclear to save us.
> >
> > Biofuels may well carry us for awhile. And solar
> cells may eventually
> > become cost competitive.
> >
> > Both of these, as well as wind and nuclear, are in
> competition. I'd
> > bet on a mix of all of them.
> >
> > I really believe that by 2050 electric autos will
> have driven other
> > options off the table. Long range, it is the only
> option that makes
> > sense. How the electricity is generated then is up
> for garbs.
> >
> > Burgy
> >
>
>
> To unsubscribe, send a message to
> majordomo@calvin.edu with
> "unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the
> message.
>

To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
"unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message.
Received on Sun Jun 15 22:31:28 2008