How to Beat the High Cost of Gasoline. Forever!

How much farmland does it take to both feed a growing population and fill the tanks of all the cars in the world?

Lucky for us, ethanol can be made from things that don't compete with foodcrops. Think forest residues from logging and switch grass which will grow on land uneconomical for foodcrops. Also, parts of foodcrops that we don't eat can be used as ethanol feedstocks.

I don't know how complete a solution ethanol will be, but it's certainly worth exploring.

I am all for ethanol and also bio-diesel. Let's turn American farmers loose and thumb our noses at the Arab shieks!

Will take a while for things to shake out, numbers wise. American farmers can produce a lot more than we do now, given the incentive. Perhaps 'fallow ground' policies (where we're paid to NOT grow certain grains) will adjust. Further, depends on the focus. If we want cheap fuel, we'll import ethanol from Brazil, or other countries lined up to supply biodiesel, for instance. If we want the money to stay here, and give a shot in the arm to American farmers, or, agro-business, then we'll focus on that. Every time something 'new' comes along, the alarmists scream life as we know it, has ended. Shrug, looking at oil, I could live with that :P
We all know we could cut imports by using a hell of a lot less. Still sounds like we're focused on making MORE fuel, so we can still have our wasteful lifestyle. We could do a little of both, and do a lot of good. Coulda/woulda/shoulda, eh? Along with that, is actually using wood byproducts in their entirety. We'll see.

DOM MOYES Feburary 22nd.

I WOULD BE PLEASED TO SEE SOME ONE COME UP WITH A VIABLE AND ECONAOMICAL METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION AND STORAGE OF USEABLE ETHANOL, OR METHANE OR HYDROGEN TO BE USED IN THE HOME AND OR IN THE CAR.
iF SUCH A SKEME WAS AVAILABLE AND TAKEN UP BY THE MASSES OUR PROBLEMS FOR GLOBAL WARMING AND FUEL INTO THE FUTURE WOULD BE SECURED.

I heard that Brazil is making ethanol cheaper than gasoline from sugar cane instead of corn. Why not in the U.S.?