A recent opinion article rejects the promise of plant based fuels, and calls for a strategy of conservation and sound urban planning as a remedy for the nation's energy problems.
"Fuel from plants? Sounds pretty good. But before you rush out to buy an E-85 pickup, consider:
-- The United States annually consumes more fossil and nuclear energy than all the energy produced in a year by the country’s plant life, including forests and that used for food and fiber, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Energy and David Pimentel, a Cornell University researcher."
As an alternative, the author suggests stricter fuel economy and smarter urban growth management.
FULL STORY: The Biofuel Illusion

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