Zell, Chris wrote:
Much of the criticism about ethanol is simple pessimism, and ignores the likelihood that the technology will improve as it develops.
A terrific amount of money has been invested in the technology and it has not improved much. Industry spokesmen claim "a 30% net gain" which is abysmal. If that is the best they can do, the industry should be shut down immediately.
Perhaps there will be some fundamental breakthrough to reduce the overhead energy costs, but even so, the total energy content of all of the food crops in the US is nowhere near enough.
The money we spend on ethanol would be far better spent on conservation, hybrid automobiles and so on.
- Jed
