| We are looking for an across-the-board solution for | | | | energy fuels developed in tandem, such |
| our present exorbitant consumption of | | | | as the Hydrogen based fuel cell to assist the Ethanol |
| gasoline and it seems as though there is none, at | | | | fuel approach, this could lend itself |
| least for the present. We are looking at | | | | to some key food staple shortages. The final |
| Ethanol additive to our present gasoline formulas, but | | | | question may be..."Do we prefer wheels beneath |
| this will only give us better miles | | | | our feet, or food in our stomachs." Common sense |
| per gallon and of course, much cleaner bi-products | | | | tells us that at this point in time, we |
| with its use. Ethanol becomes a temporary | | | | must proceed with great caution. Granted, the very |
| fix...at best. The reason, of course is the need for | | | | large south American country of Brazil |
| the corn base sugars(and other similar | | | | has embarked on their Ethanol program for |
| sugar and starch crops) to produce it. It is a simple | | | | approximately a decade now, with fairly good |
| deduction that it will eventually | | | | results and have enjoyed the weaning from foreign |
| begin to deplete the food stock of our nation and | | | | oil. Will it ever be 100% remains to be |
| also hurt our exports of these grains. We | | | | seen.Solar energy is one possible approach being |
| could, with the anticipated increase in need of our | | | | tinkered with to produce Hydrogen in order to |
| corn crop, grow the extra acreage that | | | | power our future power plants and it is hoped that |
| would be needed to meet any anticipated needs. | | | | electricity, which now helps to deplete |
| We must keep in mind the amount of labor | | | | our fossil fuels will help us to deliver the fuel needed |
| that would be required to accomplish this task. The | | | | to produce power for advanced |
| question remains...Will the Ethanol | | | | "Fuel Cells" being developed to power the |
| approach keep the price below our present gasoline | | | | automobiles and trucks, etc. of the future. |
| prices ?All in all, we must accept the fact that we will | | | | Unfortunately, producing Hydrogen by using solar |
| not be able to have our gas and eat our | | | | energy electricity is very inefficient. |
| corn muffins too. There are also other crops which | | | | This being said, solar energy is fully renewable and |
| can be used to derive the Ethanol fuel, | | | | therefore must be considered. Along |
| such as soybeans, sugar beet, raw sugarcane, etc.. | | | | with the Hydrogen fuel from Solar approach comes |
| The fact still remains...the choice will | | | | recent announcements of some breakthroughs |
| be gas for our automobiles and along with this will | | | | holding great promise using Solar to economically |
| eventually come a vast depletion of one | | | | produce the hydrogen needed for fuel cells |
| or more of our key domestic and export crops. It | | | | for both the automobile and our industrial needs and |
| does not mean that this scenario will | | | | not using up all of our food resources |
| eventually come to be, but without other renewable | | | | in the process. |