The Oil Drum

Yeah, I recently suggested using NG and or Propane in the"off demand" summer monthes and was pretty much kicked around here for saying it.

My argument is still this:  If you are going to use nat gas in transportation, (and it it's available, we will) it is better to take out the massively expensive and environmentally damaging middle steps, that is, using nat gas fertilizer to grow corn for ethanol and waste it PLUS waste water and topsoil....or waste nat gas in the tar sand industry, and create a mightmare in carbon release and wasted water and wasted prestine landscape, or, waste nat gas in assisting coal to liquid, AND waste water and create carbon release.....finally, you just have to say, IS IT NOT FAR MORE EFFICIENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE TO BURN IT DIRECTLY IN TRANSPORTATION AND LEAVE ASIDE THE HUGE DAMAGE.  (CAPS for emphesis and not for shout)

Due to the North American problem on nat gas production, i.e. peak nat gas, we would have to be very clever not to just waste it, however, and look for ways to reduce electric demand/heating demand in homes and business to free up enough without sending nat gas prices out of sight and then being in no better shape then before.

I have my doubts on this, being clever has not been a hallmark of American energy use.

Roger Conner  known to you as ThatsItImout