Friends,

I would like to suggest we ask if a policy of replacing liquid fossil fuels for transportation with ANY form of ethanol makes any sense at all? Does this strategy yield the greatest degree of energy independence?

Consider, even cellulosic ethanol at 5:1 net energy will be burned in an I.C.E. with only 30% efficiency. As a result, the true net energy of the ethanol I.C.E. system is a mere 1.5:1

Given that buildings are the source of 48% of climate changing gases, perhaps we should look at a displacement strategy. That is, if we use solid biofuels for space conditioning we can re-allocate the displaced fossil fuels to transportation.

Our grass-based pellet fuels have a net energy of 14:1 and are combusted in systems with at least an 83% efficiency [USDA FS & PFI data]. As a result, the true net energy of grass fueled space conditioning is on the order of 11.6:1. This is a 673% increase in net energy of the system compared to ethanol.

I have posted a short piece over on [ Greater Democracy ] on the 19X more energy independence that is available to us from grass pellet biofuel and why corn ethanol offers us just 1/19 of the benefits.

If we plan on a national level in terms of 100 million acres of switchgrass, or perhaps grasses with even higher yields of fiber, such as Miscanthus x gigantus [industrial hemp?] , we should design for the greatest amount of useable energy produced per acre. Anything else reduces the chances of our achieving true energy independence.

Solid switchgrass biofuel pellets have 8X more useable energy, net energy, than ethanol! So let’s get the biggest bang for our buck! To invest in ethanol is to throw away our money on an investment with 1/8th the return we could realize if we focused on converting switchgrass into engineered, solid, biofuel pellets made from a blend that includes other fibers from the recycling bin: news papers, waxed cardboard, telephone books, trimmings from making disposable diapers, etc.

By the way, we and others have successfully made pellets from all of the above materials!