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Author Topic: Grass into gas  (Read 1185 times)

Offline rpm

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« Reply #15 on: October 08, 2007, 02:39:15 PM »
IIRC we import about 30% of our oil from OPEC. The majority comes from Canada. Think we can grow enough to supply 30%? I do.
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Offline vorticon

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« Reply #16 on: October 08, 2007, 02:47:13 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by rpm
IIRC we import about 30% of our oil from OPEC. The majority comes from Canada. Think we can grow enough to supply 30%? I do.


using just one of these best thing since sliced bread alternatives? maybe not...

but possible using any number of them where they can be had fairly cheaply?

no problem.
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Offline rpm

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« Reply #17 on: October 08, 2007, 02:52:01 PM »
We already have huge amounts of land sitting idle due to crop allotments. Put those allotments into production and you have saved money 2 fold.
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Offline Angus

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« Reply #18 on: October 08, 2007, 03:17:31 PM »
AFAIK, at one point, the EU substitised 10% of used agricultural land for being NOT used. That area alone would have been more then enough to supply their energy need for the entire agriculure, - which BTW is more than just food production.
A lot of a renewable energy being wasted.
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Offline Ripsnort

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« Reply #19 on: October 08, 2007, 03:31:59 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by rpm
IIRC we import about 30% of our oil from OPEC. The majority comes from Canada. Think we can grow enough to supply 30%? I do.


I was about to call "B.S." on your statement until I looked it up:

Quote
The Persian Gulf states account for about 22% of all U.S. oil imports. Since 2001, Persian Gulf states have actually increased production by 8% in order to try to meet rising global demand. Canada and Mexico are actually America’s top two oil suppliers; both export more oil to the U.S. than does Saudi Arabia.


So, I keep hearing that we're in Iraq because of oil...yet we have plenty coming in from Canada and Mexico...hmmm....
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Offline Curval

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« Reply #20 on: October 08, 2007, 03:35:12 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by john9001
does this mean the price of grass is going to go up?


Yes, particularly "BC Bud" according to a news item I saw yesterday....but it is more to do with exchange rates than ethanol.
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Offline Ripsnort

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« Reply #21 on: October 08, 2007, 03:36:06 PM »
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Originally posted by Curval
Yes, particularly "BC Bud" according to a news item I saw yesterday....but it is more to do with exchange rates than ethanol.
:rofl :aok
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Offline Angus

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« Reply #22 on: October 08, 2007, 03:40:01 PM »
"So, I keep hearing that we're in Iraq because of oil...yet we have plenty coming in from Canada and Mexico...hmmm...."

Isn't the USA buing a lot from S-America?

Chavez????
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It was very interesting to carry out the flight trials at Rechlin with the Spitfire and the Hurricane. Both types are very simple to fly compared to our aircraft, and childishly easy to take-off and land. (Werner Mölders)

Offline cpxxx

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« Reply #23 on: October 08, 2007, 03:40:48 PM »
Whatever the ultimate process or source. This seems to be the fuel of the future. Naturally not everyone is happy with this. The anti car, anti capitalist brigade absolutely do not want us all driving around in private cars right into the future. So they have started whinging already.

Having said that, in Indonesia they have started large scale slash and burn of the rainforests, so that biofuel crops can be planted. That can't be good. You can hardly blame then though. We can't tell them to remain poor just so we can feel good about primeval forests we will never visit.

Of course all this is driven by the global warming hysteria. But at least there might be one positive outcome. Reducing our dependance on oil is no bad thing.

But the diesel engine really needs a bit more refinement.
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Offline nirvana

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« Reply #24 on: October 08, 2007, 04:33:33 PM »
I believe something like 3 times the ethanol can be produced from industrial hemp than from corn or soy.  In addition to it not being much of a food crop and it's lack of THC, the fibers from industrial hemp can be used for paper, clothing, etc.
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Offline bustr

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« Reply #25 on: October 08, 2007, 04:41:09 PM »
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This is like the old joke that voters are harsher to their beer brewer if he has an outage, than their politicians after raising their taxes. Death and taxes are certain but, fun and sex is only now.

Offline AquaShrimp

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« Reply #26 on: October 08, 2007, 05:08:54 PM »
If there is any validity to that article, that new technology will make cellulose ethanol look like steam engine technology.
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Offline RedTop

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« Reply #27 on: October 08, 2007, 05:11:59 PM »
If Cellulose is viable...then my Ex-Wifes Butt will power my SUV for a WHILE.....BE a good way to get rid of that wench to. Burn her in the tank.:lol :aok
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Offline Angus

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« Reply #28 on: October 09, 2007, 03:43:52 AM »
Industrial hemp, yes.
I had been pondering on that one. Even where I live in rather cool climate, Flax (Linen) will give a sideproduct to fiber growing (4-6 tonnes of fiber pr ha.), which is linseed, some 700 kg's. That could be close to a barrel of linseed oil, after you have subtracted the seed you need for re-planting.
And our crops are nothing compared to what you can get with the crops in somewhat warmer areas.
And the hemp is used for textiles, like flax. It's more crude though, - where is the main use?
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It was very interesting to carry out the flight trials at Rechlin with the Spitfire and the Hurricane. Both types are very simple to fly compared to our aircraft, and childishly easy to take-off and land. (Werner Mölders)

Offline rpm

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Grass into gas
« Reply #29 on: October 09, 2007, 04:21:22 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Ripsnort
I was about to call "B.S." on your statement until I looked it up:

So, I keep hearing that we're in Iraq because of oil...yet we have plenty coming in from Canada and Mexico...hmmm....
Be very careful Rip. You are dangerously close to seeing things from my POV.

We can do this and do it very easily.

Using switchgrass as a primary fuel, putting all idle allotment land and  government property into production, we could easily produce 30% of our consumption.

The problem is there is no profit for anyone to milk. A/D/M (Archer/Daniels/Midland) has the corn market sewn up and is using the flyover states to stop any diversion of funds for manufacturing switchgrass based fuels. This is Corn Country!

Everyone loves to bash Exxon/Mobil for profit gouging, but nobody is paying attention to the harm A/D/M is doing to our nation. A/D/M is concerned about making a profit for it's executives and shareholders. It has Millions invested in corn production and wants to see a return on it's investment. It could care less about you and I.

Why on earth wouldn't we we grow what we absolutely know would work and work well? Because A/D/M is contributing to the campaigns of corn state politicians. Anyone that runs against them is labeled "anti-farm" and "anti-american", a death sentence in mid-america.

Meanwhile, Unleaded is $2.99 a gallon and Exxon/Mobil turns another record profit while the prairie wind blows across an empty plain.

Farmers want to work. The nation needs the product. Where is the downside?
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My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.
Stay thirsty my friends.
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