Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: miraje who wrote (253816)	6/11/2008 2:51:20 AM
From: KLP	Respond to of 793838

Agree....certainly on ethanol. What about the sugar-gas that is being made in Brazil? Will that have the same terrible repercussions that using corn has had? It would be good for us to get off the OPEC tether ASAP....the faster we can drill our own oil and do the refining, the better off everyone will be.... We are sending trillions of dollars to countries that have that energy, and many of those countries hate us, and are using our money against us!

To: miraje who wrote (253816)	6/11/2008 12:04:28 PM
From: Alan Smithee	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793838

Blaming OPEC is stupid as well. The whole world wide story of oil and its derivatives boils down to supply and demand. Supply is banging into some strong headwinds and demand keeps growing. What's happening now with prices is simply Econ 101. Unfortunately, a large segment of the population has never run a business and has no concept of basic economic principles. They' don't understand supply and demand. It's easier to blame the "evil oil companies."

To: miraje who wrote (253816)	6/11/2008 12:32:52 PM
From: goldworldnet	Respond to of 793838

World’s First Commercially Viable Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Online 2009 Written by Clayton B. Cornell Published on April 2nd, 2008 gas2.org Range Fuels Inc. announced yesterday it has secured over $100 million in Series B funding, an investment that could make it the first company to seriously commercialize cellulosic ethanol. The first phase of construction will produce 20 million gallons of mixed alcohols per year by 2009, and has the potential to expand to up to 120 million gallons. Range Fuels says their facility will break down any type of plant material (eg agricultural waste or wood chips) by a two-step thermochemical process. This differs from competing methods of producing cellulosic ethanol, which involve breakdown of plant material with heat and/or acid, and treating it with costly ($0.50/gallon) enzymes. Range Fuels skips the enzymatic part and uses a process similar to Coskata Inc.: biomass is broken down by extreme heat and pressure, which converts it into a mixture of gases (H2 and CO) called syngas. The syngas is fed through proprietary catalysts that converts it into a mixture of alcohols, and a bit more sorting and processing produces a renewable vehicle fuel. See Range Fuel’s interactive explanation (as depicted above). The only difference between Range Fuels and the Coskata process seems to be that Coskata relies on proprietary microorganisms instead of chemical catalysts to convert the syngas into ethanol. In any case, the race is on. Coskata said earlier this year it would start building commercial facilities after a 40,000 gallon per year demo plant goes online in late 2008. Highlights of the Range Fuels Process: * Fuel production costs "significantly less" than either enzymatic cellulosic ethanol or corn-grain ethanol, the latter of which currently costs about $2/gallon. * Higher fuel production rates for each ton of biomass than enzymatic and corn-grain ethanol, which decreases cost, biomass needed, and land use. * Uses 75 percent less water than corn ethanol and 60% lower emissions than corn-grain ethanol * Cost competitive with gasoline as long as oil stays above $50/barrel. * * *