Dan Luke wrote:
On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:55:03 GMT, wrote:


All this whining about the problems with alternative fuels is nothing
but hand-wringing.

Right.

Let's not bother to look at any of the details, let's just pull something
out of our ass and implement it.

Who said it would be easy, Jim?

There will be problems, f-ups and failures.

Only if sound, established engineering and economic practices are ignored,
in which case you get boondogles like the current ethanol fiasco.

But what's the alternative? SNAFU?

We could follow the example of Brazil, which contrary to popular perception
did not put a major empapthis on ethanol (it's a minor source), rather
they greatly increased domestic petroleum production. Ever heard of
Alaska?

There is increased exploration, improved recovery technology, shale and
tar sands recovery technology and synthesis from coal for starters.

None of those require massive changes in infrastructure or the invention
of unobtainium to succeed, just grunt research and engineering.

While that's going on, you continue to do research into photovoltaics
and reactors so eventually, with some luck, electricity becomes so
cheap to produce that synthesizing hydrocarbons from random garbage
becomes economically viable.


--
Jim Pennino

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