[TheForge] eucalyptus charcoal

[schade at acegroup.cc]

On Aug 21, 2005, at 5:29 PM, David E. Smucker wrote:

>
> One side effect of the use of Biomass fuel for power generation is the 
> cord wood for wood stoves in thoses areas goes up in market price.
> Dave Smucker
>


This is the part of the argument that is often left out of the "ethanol 
will save us" discussion.

All the land that can grow corn now has corn on it. All that corn has a 
current use, animal feed, sweeteners, corn flakes etc. If you want to 
make enuf ethanol to make a difference you are either going to have to 
plant more corn on marginal land or bid up the price of the existing 
corn which means higher prices for meat etc. Farmers (and ADM) like 
this option.

I know you can make ethanol from other crops but none are as full of 
sugar as corn which makes the conversion more expensive than just 
buying oil.

We be screwed.

Bob