Biofuels

The Future

By: Matt Waldman

Vocabulary

• Biofuel

• Global Warming

• Food vs. Fuel

• Flex Fuel Vehicle(FFV)

• Ponscum

The Issue

• Gas prices are at an all time high. (Easy oil is gone!)

• Fossil fuels are running out.

• Some middle class families cannot afford gas.

• Taxes don’t help either.David Kiley www.businessweek.com/.../01/ford_banking_on.html

The Issue Continued….

• The theory of Global Warming.

• Very substantial evidence concluding the theory.

• Biofuel use would increase national energy security rural development.

www.des.state.nh.us/ARD/ClimateChange/science.htm

The issue continued…• Biofuel prodcution has

raised prices of corn. (Food security)

• Driving up world food prices.

The issue……

• May cause problems in car parts. (older cars)

• Each biofuel has certain problems.

MZ-10Biodiesel & Ethanol Yields

Feedstock Yield (g/acre) Yield (gge/acre)African Palm Oil 635 668Coconut Palm Oil 287 302Avocado Oil 282 297Jatropha Oil 202 213Rapeseed Oil 127 134Mustard Seed Oil 61 64Soybean Oil 48 51Algae Oil 500-20,000 526-21,052Sugar Beet 714 476Sugar Cane 662 441Sweet Potato 613 409Cassava 410 273Sweet Sorghum 374 249Corn Grain 354 236Wheat 277 185Corn Stover 100 67Pahl 2005http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/ethanol_yield_calculator.html

The issue

• Should biofuels be used as an alternative to Gasoline and other petroleum energy sources, or should Connecticut and the rest of the world develop other natural resource methods in order to wean off of petroleum energy?

Historical Timeline

• In 1896, Henry Ford built his first automobile to run on pure ethanol. (Quadricycle)

• In 1900, Diesel engine was invented• Ford also built his first “flex fuel” car in 1908.

(Model T)• In Early 1990’s, millions of gallons of ethanol

were used during war.• early 1900’s, large supplies of crude oil were

discovered in Pennsylvania and Texas.• Gasoline was then used as the fuel of choice

because of its cheaper price.

Historic Timeline continued…• Mid 1940’s, ethanol was again used increasingly during

war.• 1950’s, ethanol usage drastically decreased.• 1970’s, fuel shortages lead to a revived interest in

biodiesel by consumers, but the government hustles to subsidize the petroleum market. Maintains its rep as an "alternative" fuel.

• 1980, 50 millions gallons of ethanol are produced.• 1985, Ford Motor Co. manufactures the first flex-fuel

vehicles capable of running on gas, ethanol, or methanol.

Historical timeline continued…

• 2000, renewed interest in biofuels has been. (High oil prices, global warming, ect.)

• 2001, Flex Fuel vehicles (FFV) start to be produced in the United States.

• 2007, over 6 million FFV’s running in the U.S.

• March 2008, approximately 1600 ethanol (E85) stations have been built in the U.S.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/FLAG_POLICY_DURING_THE_1973_oil_crisis.gif

http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jkohara/Biofuels_10_13_06.pdf

Scope of Issue

• Geographical

• Economical

• Societal

Measures taken to amend the issue

• Three biodiesel plants were constructed in CT’s attempt to catch up with biofuels. (Fuel previously unavailable)

• The Connecticut Center for Advanced

• Technology offered $ 5 mil in gov. grants.

Which Side Do I Chose?• I am for developing

biofuels and choosing them as the primary energy source to take fossil fuels places.

• If The U.S. puts the right programs using the right generation of biofuels into place, than in less than a 15 years, biofuels will stand as the new primary energy source.

Mandate #1

• CT doesn’t have much to offer when it comes to biofuels. (Very few fuel sites)

• Not climate oriented for growth. (Algae)

• Not cost effective to buy biofuels from other states or countries.

http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Media/images/art-algae-f09ed0f5-a431-4f7b-9a9d-846d5883facf.jpg

Mandate #1• CT must have a

certain number of Algae plants by 2015

• Algae is most profitable and can be grown in CT’s climate.

http://www.ccsu.edu/admaffairs/j0362649%5B1%5D.jpg

Mandate #1

• The economy state is strong.

• low unemployment rates.

• Income of state residents in one of the highest in the country.

• $43,173 average income

Mandate #1

• In order to gain money to build and run plants, an extra tax must be put onto certain products.

• Wealthy families will have higher costs than lower class families.

• 200 acres of land should be planned out for implementation of plan.

• By, 2012 or 2013, the building of these plants will be started.

• By 2015, CT will be able to supply the state with biodiesel for automobiles.

Mandate #2• Creating fuel centers to

distribute biofuel.• By 2018 there must be

10-15 distribution centers spread throughout the state.

• By 2020 there must be 20

• The government must give CT companies tax breaks. (Construction, engineering, ect)

• The government must also not pursue any other biofuel than algae.

http://i.treehugger.com/files/b20.jpg

Mandate #2

• Economy provides safe environment for development.

• The high average income allows the government to tax the wealthy and big companies who in turn receive tax breaks.

• People will be more willing to comply if they can be shown that they will benefit in the long run

Mandate #3

• The cars that run on this biofuel must be put on the production line by 2012.(GM)

• By 2020 half of the residents in the state must have one of these cars.

• In order to help the U.S. economy, there must be no foreign car importing.

• Everyone benefits if money stays in country.http://www.treehugger.com/solazyme-test-car-b100.jpg

Mandate #3

• The American Motor companies will make the cars with a guarantee that people will buy them.

• People must comply. (Cheap Cars)

• Car companies sell cars for cheaper price, because of government help.

• Profit within 10 years of the completed plan.

video

• http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/biofuels/

Bibliography

• Riminton, Hugh. “Green Blog: Drinking from a fuel tank? Makes sense to me”. Riminton, Hugh. 7/1/2008 CNN.com/Asia http:www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/01/green.hughblog3/index.htnl

• O’brien, Miles. Pinescum Without Pine. O’brien, Miles. 2008. Cnn.com http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/biofuels/

• Zauscher, Melanie. Biofuels: “History, Current Use and policy.” http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jkohara/Biofuels_10_13_06.pdf

• Pahl, G. (2005), Biodiesel: Growing a New Economy, Chelsea Green.

• Schubert, C. (2006), “Can Biofuels Finally take Center Stage” Nature Biotechnology 24 (7).

Bibliography

• Lewis, Leo. “Biofuels Make Useful villain for food crisis” The Times. June 4, 2008http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article4061208.ece

• Burkhalter, Sarah K. “A Lighthearted Look at Biofuels Through Time”. December 4, 2006. http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/12/04/history/

Bibliography

• Treehugger.com http://www.treehugger.com/solazyme-test-

car-b100.jpg

“End of Cheap Food.” Economist. Dec 6, 2007. http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10252015