Fuel independance?

[reeeoga]

Sounds good!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,246578,00.html

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I think it's a great idea to become less dependant on fossil fuels...however... I work for a Bank making loans to farmers. We are seeing an HUGE increase in the number of acres being planted to grain corn due to the current high price. This will be great for the farmers in general because most have struggled financially for many years... but here are the draw backs:

Since the price of grain corn is so high - nobody wants to grow sweet corn, green peas, other lower income producing crops. So be prepared to see higher produce and beef/pork/chicken prices this summer.

I've heard that if every acre in the US that can grow corn was planted we'd still be over 1 million tons short of being able to fuel all of the ethanol plants that are coming on line. Then there is the fact that oil is now creaping down to $50/barrel or less...it's not a coincidence...middle east oil producers know good and well that if the US switches a large part of their fuel consumption to bio-diesel and ethanol they will lose a huge part of their market. $50 a barrel is basically the break even point for making ethanol - if oil is less than $50 a barrel it is cheaper than ethanol.

I hope that we can make this switch over to ethanol and biodiesel but I don't think that the American public will stick to paying more just to be less dependant on middle eastern oil...

 

[reeeoga]

Another problem may be that if more of the corn is used to make fuel, what happens to the price of corn chips, tortias and other food items?

I want an electric or hybred car that has the same preformance that my current car has. If it is within 10% of the cost I would buy one, the savings in fuel will make up the cost difference.