tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post114705284899032559..comments2023-12-27T04:58:41.112-08:00Comments on BIOconversion Blog: CBS 60 Minutes - The Ethanol Solution - A ReviewC. Scott Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04752517798894140353noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147843485670425372006-05-16T22:24:00.000-07:002006-05-16T22:24:00.000-07:00There is the science. And then there is the indust...There is the science. And then there is the industrialization and marketing of the science. We still have a ways to go before we build our first, real commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol refineries. In the meantime we must work on the marketing - "nothing happens until something is sold." We'll never get the necessary legislative permits and investment until marketers help people see the vision -C. Scott Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04752517798894140353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147834982872567872006-05-16T20:03:00.000-07:002006-05-16T20:03:00.000-07:00I think we look at technology differently. Instead...<I> I think we look at technology differently. Instead of "What if...?" how about "What can we try...?". I don't believe in perfect solutions. I believe in learning by creating. </I><BR/><BR/>Scott,<BR/><BR/>I don't think we look at technology that much differently.<BR/><BR/>I see for a future for cellulosic alcohol (whether methanol, ethanol, or butanol). I see a future for wind power; fluid-bedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147674502360864012006-05-14T23:28:00.000-07:002006-05-14T23:28:00.000-07:00I think we look at technology differently. Instead...I think we look at technology differently. Instead of "What if...?" how about "What can we try...?". I don't believe in perfect solutions. I believe in learning by creating.<BR/><BR/>You ask about today's hybrid as if it is one model and it will stay static over the next 5-7 years. We both know that is not the case. Competitive models from Toyota and other manufacturers are coming out this year -C. Scott Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04752517798894140353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147658922852267402006-05-14T19:08:00.000-07:002006-05-14T19:08:00.000-07:00Probably the biggest plus for the Prius is that it...<I> Probably the biggest plus for the Prius is that it gave the upper middle class a way to achieve status for environmental consciousness - as opposed to car size or power. </I><BR/><BR/>You didn't answer my question: <BR/><BR/>What if over the entire life cycle of a hybrid, it turns out those cars actually use more energy than a conventionally-powered compact car would use? There is some Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147618780132086872006-05-14T07:59:00.000-07:002006-05-14T07:59:00.000-07:00Congrats on the 55mpg trip you took. I think bio-d...Congrats on the 55mpg trip you took. I think bio-diesel is part of the renewable fuel picture. - although not part of my focus. <BR/><BR/>While I don't think the government should make choices for the individual, I do feel that the government should set standards on emissions and mileage (CAFE). The air is much cleaner now (I live in L.A.) than it was 30 years ago. <BR/><BR/>I agree with the C. Scott Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04752517798894140353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147580766395829382006-05-13T21:26:00.000-07:002006-05-13T21:26:00.000-07:00But I love more the right for each to choose for t...<I> But I love more the right for each to choose for themselves. </I><BR/><BR/>But what about when those choices degrade the quality and sustainability of life for those around them?<BR/><BR/>Along with the freedom to choose, comes and obligation to make wise choices -- especially when those bad choices adversely affect others.<BR/><BR/>Using a two-ton SUV to carry one person five miles from the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147450598084880812006-05-12T09:16:00.000-07:002006-05-12T09:16:00.000-07:00Survival of the fittest. Remember how the Japanese...Survival of the fittest. Remember how the Japanese sold cars to the U.S. market in the early '70s? Oil crisis. This time around it appears to be hybrid cars that have been pushed into the spotlight.<BR/><BR/>I would love for more people to take public transportation and carpool. But I love more the right for each to choose for themselves. The government might affect their choices through punitiveC. Scott Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04752517798894140353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147404210737474642006-05-11T20:23:00.000-07:002006-05-11T20:23:00.000-07:00Corncob wrote the last message, not me. Yes he did...<I> Corncob wrote the last message, not me. </I><BR/><BR/>Yes he did (Corndog). Sorry, I wasn't paying attention.<BR/><BR/><I> Too many people only think of conserving physical matter through recycling or abstinence. But what about conserving energy contained in unrecyclabled waste? Our society is plagued with inefficiencies in how we create things, transfer energy, and dispose of waste using Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147301396970571312006-05-10T15:49:00.000-07:002006-05-10T15:49:00.000-07:00Gary - Corncob wrote the last message, not me.I th...Gary - <BR/><BR/>Corncob wrote the last message, not me.<BR/><BR/>I think conservation is one biggest reasons we need to press ahead with conversion technologies. Too many people only think of conserving physical matter through recycling or abstinence. But what about conserving energy contained in unrecyclabled waste? Our society is plagued with inefficiencies in how we create things, transfer C. Scott Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04752517798894140353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147231961384309342006-05-09T20:32:00.000-07:002006-05-09T20:32:00.000-07:00I believe conservation-as-energy-policy is an illu...<I> I believe conservation-as-energy-policy is an illusion, a feel-good placebo, complete with a failed history to observe. For that reason, I am not sure there is ANY lesson for us in the Brazil story. </I><BR/><BR/>Scott,<BR/><BR/>You may be right. Brazil can be self-sufficient because much of their country is still in third world status. <BR/><BR/>To make ethanol from cane, they clear the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147174629187442162006-05-09T04:37:00.000-07:002006-05-09T04:37:00.000-07:00I disagree, Gary, that the lesson we can learn fro...I disagree, Gary, that the lesson we can learn from Brazil is CONSERVATION. Their edicts in 1973 which embarked them onto their energy solution was from the get go one of REPLACEMENT of imported oil, instead of conservation. In 1999, when Brasilia mandated that by 2003 all new vehicles sold would have to be flex-fuel capable, it made no demand concerning fuel mileage.<BR/><BR/>The Brazilian corndoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01292263790072409842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147141241404543472006-05-08T19:20:00.000-07:002006-05-08T19:20:00.000-07:00Always great to hear from you, Gary. I don't think...Always great to hear from you, Gary. <BR/><BR/>I don't think the "Brazil point" that 60 Minutes was making was that we should start growing sugar cane. What they were trying to do was educate the public that there is a precedent for a nation deciding to develop an alternative fuel economy and being successful at it. If Brazil can do it - you don't think America can - even with all the geographic C. Scott Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04752517798894140353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147138652586633742006-05-08T18:37:00.000-07:002006-05-08T18:37:00.000-07:00By highlighting Brazil's success, it provided the ...<I> By highlighting Brazil's success, it provided the best evidence that a significant energy paradigm shift is possible in America. </I><BR/><BR/>Scott,<BR/><BR/>The <I> Sixty Minutes </I> article completely glossed over the reasons for Brazil's success and failed to mention that hardly anything in the Brazil model fits the U.S. While Brazil has had great success in using sugar cane ethanol as aAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147137241286934692006-05-08T18:14:00.000-07:002006-05-08T18:14:00.000-07:00From your lips to God's ears.From your lips to God's ears.C. Scott Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04752517798894140353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147126068475018982006-05-08T15:07:00.000-07:002006-05-08T15:07:00.000-07:00Yes, Scott, I am sure that bio-fuels do not have t...Yes, Scott, I am sure that bio-fuels do not have to replace all of our petroleum usage in order to bring monopolistic pricing to an end. I think a figure of somewhere around 30% would be sufficient to neuter OPEC, and provide us with relatively cheap liquid fuels for some time to come. As long as oil just bubbles out of the ground, we will buy it. <BR/><BR/>However, when you are a seller of a corndoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01292263790072409842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147103314011056452006-05-08T08:48:00.000-07:002006-05-08T08:48:00.000-07:00I think the days of centralized energy solutions (...I think the days of centralized energy solutions (aka oil dependency) is going to come to an end - not a moment too soon. With ethanol we can have a variety of feedstock - wood waste in the pacific northwest, rice straw in the Joachim Valley, bagasse in Brazil, tires in New Jersey, sulfurous coal in east Germany, petroleum and corn in Mexico, etc. - that can be exploited regionally to create a C. Scott Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04752517798894140353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147096265435001362006-05-08T06:51:00.000-07:002006-05-08T06:51:00.000-07:00The commentary and the comments cover most of it. ...The commentary and the comments cover most of it. This was a VERY incomplete coverage of the subject. The one BIG elephant in the room is that we do not have the land to grow enough of anything for everyone to use E85 or Biodiesel! We can all use E10-E20 and maybe B20, but we can't do away with oil yet. The Billion Ton Biomass report gives an idea on the limits and what it will cost to reach themAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147091983276413752006-05-08T05:39:00.000-07:002006-05-08T05:39:00.000-07:00Thanks Corndog - you have a great site on flex-fue...Thanks Corndog - you have a great site on flex-fuel technology and interesting tips for investors. I've added you to my News Feed.<BR/>You are right about Brazil - it doesn't run on ethanol (yet) and the U.S. is clearly not going to see an overnight shift to ethanol. We will be lucky to just tackle energy demand growth within the next 10 years. But the impact of having ethanol as even 20% of the C. Scott Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04752517798894140353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14235725.post-1147085098269510062006-05-08T03:44:00.000-07:002006-05-08T03:44:00.000-07:00I wouldn't have seen it if not for your heads-up y...I wouldn't have seen it if not for your heads-up yesterday. Thanks!<BR/><BR/>Yes I thought it was fair, the first piece of journalism I've seen ANYWHERE lately which didn't bash GM. I just KNEW they were going to interview David Pemental, but they didn't!<BR/><BR/>The Brazilian success story was attributed solely to ethanol, and that is a bit of a stretch. There is danger, I believe, in corndoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01292263790072409842noreply@blogger.com