Cheap biofuels to the rescue!
$4.00 gas starts to change consumer behaviorI just finished reading a story on how the Department of Energy is funding enzyme systems for cellulosic ethanol, a line of research I endorse. Still, this quest that US automakers, Congress and business are making to develop cheap biofuels seems flawed in its very essence.
Hasn't cheap gas already proven that cheap fuel leads to consumer retardation? Cheap fuel leads to increased consumption. So, why do we keep pouring billions and billions of dollars into ethanol and biofuel-related endeavors, but so little into automakers that achieve impressive fuel economy, into automakers that significantly reduce consumption?
Is consumption, not efficiency, the driving force of America? Yes, I know, that's a stupid question for anyone living in this consumer nation to ask.
Labels: biofuels
posted by Dahcredyns at
7:59 AM
2 Comments:
Hi There is a lot of talk about biofuels, but the other part of the equation, fuel economy doesn't get much play. This isn't surprising in a country where unnecessary horsepower is regarded as a sign of conusmer savy. Unfortunately it leads to society pouring good biofuels in to bad autos.
Exactly.
I hate sounding anti-biofuel, although I am pretty much against corn-based ethanol - at least in terms of increasing its use.
Cellulosic ethanol, especially, waste-driven forms of biomass, on the other hand, sound like great ideas, but they will never be an answer to poor fuel economy.
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