Economics of ethanol

[cowman]

There is a lot of research going on with various grasses? Switch grass is the most popular because it has a natural polymer...which could result in a bio plastic? There is also research going on about splicing this gene into other grasses?
Corn, wheat, maybe barley are not the end of the game...only the start? But you have to start somewhere? Canola might not be the best oil for bio deisel...hemp looks even more promising? But again you have to start somewhere? And all these products will replace food production!
I have been involved(in a very small way) in a bio gas project. It is truly amazing how fast the technology is advancing...and prices coming down? A farmer east of Red Deer is starting construction of a small plant this spring and it is quite innovative and cost effective! He is not chasing the electricity market but will be producing scrubbed methane gas right into the NOVA pipeline!

[brian99]

Guys, I don't think it matters whether this thing makes sense or not. The US government wants ethanol. I think oil security comes into play here. Yes, corn based ethanol is corrosive (sugar and cellulose based ethanol aren't), but where else are you going to find 10bbu of anything for these plants?

I kind of think it's like the first pacemaker. The patient didn't live long and it cost a fortune. Look at where we are now. There is nothing to say we won't switch to grasses as fuel for methyl-etheyl keytone something or other. I'm hearing now ethanol runs better (equivalent to gasoline) at 15:1 compression. Research is going on with ethanol/biodiesel blends. We are just starting this bus, and it will help crop prices in the short term, and Martha says thats a good thing.

[cowman]

You got it Brian!