Jones Beene wrote:
NO! Ad hominem is only irrelevant if it does not tie back to the original thesis under discussion, and in this case there is a linkage.
I see no such linkage.
Of give me the exact estimate from the 40 year old book, which you think proves that ethanol cannot substitue for a large part of our imported oil . . .
What does 40 years have to do with it? Solar energy and photosynthesis were well understood back then. If you wish to find another reference to refute this estimate I suggest I suggest you do your own homework. In any case, I have quoted the source previously. The estimate is not exact, and the numbers are worked out by Pimentel based on that reference. "Each year the total amount of solar energy harvested annually in the form of agricultural crops and forestry products is about 6.9 x 10E15 kcal . . . This represents about 30% of the fossil energy consumption in the United States . . ."
(not total oil use but imported oil) . . .
You can work out the amount of energy derived from oil, coal and other fossil fuel from the EIA Annual Energy Review. I am sure you can find authoritative, updated Dept. of Agriculture publications that agree with the 1965 study. There is no controversy or disagreement about this subject, as far as I know. Every book on the subject that I have seen indicates there is nowhere near enough photosynthesis in North America to produce the energy we use.
. . . and I will find an newer and more reliable estimate based on sustainability, to cross-check and counter your old figure against.
I doubt you will find that photosynthesis has improved in the last 40 years.
Again, ad hominem is only irrelevant if it does not tie back to the original thesis, and serve to disprove that thesis . . .
A statement about Pimentel's politics does *nothing* to disprove his carefully referenced calculations for biomass! That's ridiculous.
Then, once again, all I am asking for is for the exact reference, which you trust, in your 40 year old reference, which you think proves that Alkane-Aquanol (or ethanol) cannot adequately substitute for a large part of our imported oil (not total oil usage but imported oil from the middle East) . . .
The efficiency of the system is irrelevant. If every single leaf, grass, branch and food crop that grows in North America were converted into ethanol with 100% efficiency it would not be anywhere near enough.
- Jed
