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Robert Zubrin is an author of science fiction novels and a proponent of a manned mission to Mars, but he is seized with a more earthly passion: breaking the hold that the OPEC oil cartel has over the United States and other oil-dependent countries.
Mr. Zubrin offers up a simple answer that he says would dramatically reduce the U.S. dependence on imported oil: The U.S. Congress should mandate that all new cars sold be “flex-fuel vehicles,” or capable of running on either gasoline or biofuels.
The slight, intense aerospace engineer spoke in Ottawa and Toronto at the invitation of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association to promote his book, Energy Victory: Winning the War on Terror by Breaking Free of Oil.”
The Coles Notes version: OPEC is led by Saudi Arabia, which is becoming ever more obscenely wealthy by controlling energy prices, and which uses its petro-wealth to finance the spread of the extreme branch of Islam that is responsible for much terrorism.
The United States is jeopardizing its national security, its economy and the global environment by remaining addicted to high-priced OPEC oil. Even harder hit by the run-up in prices are poor Third World countries.
Both the U.S. and the rest of the world can break that stranglehold by substituting biofuels for gasoline, not in small increments envisioned by current 10 per cent renewable fuel standards, but in a wholesale manner.
The technology exists for the commercial production of both ethanol and methanol, using sugars, grains, agricultural waste, forestry waste and other biomass. And unlike oil, where reserves are concentrated in a few countries, the availability of biomass is spread around the globe, though less so in the deserts of the Middle East.
Detroit could easily convert its fleet to accept either gasoline or biofuel - much more cheaply than it would cost to dramatically increase fuel economy.
What's missing, he says, is the incentive for companies to construct a distribution system for biofuels that would rival the vast gasoline infrastructure. By mandating flex-fuel vehicles, Mr. Zurbin argues, Congress would ensure that entrepreneurial Americans would build the necessary infrastructure to deliver ethanol and methanol to consumers.
With widespread marketing of biofuels, he expects crude prices would recede to about $50 (U.S.) a barrel - the level at which he figures ethanol and methanol can compete.
With such legislation, Mr. Zubrin proclaims with the conviction of a prophet, “The U.S. Congress would destroy OPEC with the stroke of a pen.” Not to mention the oil-based economy of Alberta.
Mr. Zubrin rejects the notion that food inflation is resulting from biofuel demand and points instead to demand from rapidly developing countries and from rising oil prices themselves. He noted that fish prices are rising and no one uses fish for biofuel; rice prices are rising, and no one uses rice for biofuel.
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dave dave from London, United Kingdom writes: "He noted that fish prices are rising and no one uses fish for biofuel; rice prices are rising, and no one uses rice for biofuel."
Of course fish and rich prices are rising, biofuel reduces the supply of
of food by using farm land to produce biofuel. When there is less food available the prices of all food stuffs will rise as people switch from the
crops immediately affected to food stuffs not used for biopfuel, this increased demand will push up prices dramatically.
This guy is either lying or a simpleton.- Posted 03/04/08 at 5:57 PM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
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west slope from Greater Vancouver, Canada writes:
Sectarian at best, r_____ at worst. Tsk, tsk.- Posted 04/04/08 at 1:39 AM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
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Bob In from Canada writes: What a pointy head! Not a mention of conservation.
- Posted 07/04/08 at 11:49 AM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
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Robert Bott from Calgary, Canada writes: First problem: Demonstrate that biofuels are economically, socially and environmental sustainable.
Second problem: Build or convert pipeline infrastructure for biofuels, all of which currently move by barge, truck or rail at considerably higher cost.- Posted 08/04/08 at 6:41 PM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
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