Comments on: GM partners with Coskata on new ethanol process http://earthanet.com/2008/01/26/gm-partners-with-coskata-on-new-ethanol-process/ renewable energy sustainable future Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:20:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: earthanet http://earthanet.com/2008/01/26/gm-partners-with-coskata-on-new-ethanol-process/#comment-21 earthanet Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:15:10 +0000 http://earthanet.wordpress.com/?p=8#comment-21 We lost 30 years between the first fuel crisis of 1976 and the fuel crisis of 2008 that we could have been using to develop renewable energy technology. Until we get caught up, we'll have to choose between the lesser of evils for our energy needs. Thanks for the tip on solar thermal, bremaria. It will be the subject of a future blog post. We lost 30 years between the first fuel crisis of 1976 and the fuel crisis of 2008 that we could have been using to develop renewable energy technology. Until we get caught up, we’ll have to choose between the lesser of evils for our energy needs.

Thanks for the tip on solar thermal, bremaria. It will be the subject of a future blog post.

]]> By: bremaria http://earthanet.com/2008/01/26/gm-partners-with-coskata-on-new-ethanol-process/#comment-20 bremaria Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:20:54 +0000 http://earthanet.wordpress.com/?p=8#comment-20 I agree that Ethanol from trash would be a great transition fuel. Electricity is not that envir0nmentally friendly today, mostly running on coal, natural gas and nuclear. Very little comes from renewable resources like wind, solar and geothermal. That is changing, but will take a long time. Nevada has 215 applications for land use for solar thermal power plants and no permits have been issued yet. They stated needs for environmental studies and land rights issues that have to be worked out before building plants and running the power lines. That could take many, many years. I agree that Ethanol from trash would be a great transition fuel. Electricity is not that envir0nmentally friendly today, mostly running on coal, natural gas and nuclear. Very little comes from renewable resources like wind, solar and geothermal. That is changing, but will take a long time. Nevada has 215 applications for land use for solar thermal power plants and no permits have been issued yet. They stated needs for environmental studies and land rights issues that have to be worked out before building plants and running the power lines. That could take many, many years.

]]> By: earthanet http://earthanet.com/2008/01/26/gm-partners-with-coskata-on-new-ethanol-process/#comment-7 earthanet Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:15:13 +0000 http://earthanet.wordpress.com/?p=8#comment-7 Even as a transitional fuel, ethanol is pretty weak. If not for government ag subsidies, it wouldn't stand a chance. Not that I'm against government subsidies; I just think they should only be granted for viable technologies that need a boost to get started. But ethanol from garbage instead of corn changes the equation a bit, since we'll produce garbage no matter what. The crucial question is whether Coskata's patented process really does lower the production cost and up the input-output ratio as favorably as they say it does. In an industry where hype and press releases are king, that remains to be seen. Even as a transitional fuel, ethanol is pretty weak. If not for government ag subsidies, it wouldn’t stand a chance. Not that I’m against government subsidies; I just think they should only be granted for viable technologies that need a boost to get started.

But ethanol from garbage instead of corn changes the equation a bit, since we’ll produce garbage no matter what. The crucial question is whether Coskata’s patented process really does lower the production cost and up the input-output ratio as favorably as they say it does. In an industry where hype and press releases are king, that remains to be seen.

]]> By: bobdurivage http://earthanet.com/2008/01/26/gm-partners-with-coskata-on-new-ethanol-process/#comment-6 bobdurivage Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:26:33 +0000 http://earthanet.wordpress.com/?p=8#comment-6 Ethanol should not be considered anything more than a transitional fuel. The future is electric. Ethanol should not be considered anything more than a transitional fuel. The future is electric.

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