articles submitted
Alternative Energy Sources
(Previously submitted to TREIA NEWS, June 29, 2003)
By: Lyle G. Reeser
During the past 30 years many detailed studies have been undertaken
regarding the development of alternative energy sources for use to
supplement fossil fuels, which presently poison our air, pollute our water
and become detrimental to our economy. Reliance on imports for most of our
oil and gas needs makes us vulnerable to political unrest and terrorism.
These facts have led us into war and made it essential that priority be
directed to the implementation of Solar, Wind and Biomass sources of
energy to replace fossil fuel imports.
With less than five percent of the world’s population, the United States
uses about 25% of the coal, 26% of the oil and 27% of the natural gas
known reserves. Development of Solar and Wind sources of energy in Texas
has progressed very well during the past decade. However, development of
the enormous potential of Texas biomass sources has lagged far behind
other countries and other states. The Midwestern states and Brazil have
made excellent progress in developing ethanol and vegetable oils to blend
with gasoline and diesel fuel.
During preparation of an article comparing the energy efficiency in
producing ethanol from sugar cane in Brazil, with the same efficiency of
producing it from corn in Illinois, I was puzzled to learn that Brazilians
could obtain almost three times as many BTU energy units for each unit
input from their sugar cane as we could from corn. During the process, I
realized the sugar cane had about three times as many days to produce the
crop of sugar as the corn crop in Illinois. So the difference was not in
the factory conversion of sugar to ethanol, but was in the number of days
the crop had to store the solar energy in the plant through
photosynthesis. Furthermore, it became apparent that other crops such as
wheat, sorghum, cassava, soybeans, grasses, and oil palm are more
adaptable to specific regional soil conditions and climate than corn and
therefore should be processed along with solar, wind, biomass, animal and
vegetable wastes in the areas where the energy is needed.
Major automobile manufacturers have approved the use of from 10% to 85%
blend of ethanol with gasoline. Nineteen states have outlawed the future
use of MTBE (produced from fossil fuels) as a gasoline oxygenate due to
its contamination of the atmosphere and poisoning of water. Production of
ethanol is increasing at a phenomenal rate. U.S. ethanol production set a
record of 101,000 bbls. per day in June, 2003. California has called for a
ban on use of MTBE in gasoline. California is the largest gasoline market
in the U.S.
Acceptance of soybean oil and other vegetable oils with diesel fuel to
produce Biodiesel fuels is growing extremely fast. These trends brighten
the future of our nations health, our lagging agricultural economy and
potential tax relief by eliminating burdensome subsidies to our
agricultural and petroleum industries.
Texas has taken two giant steps toward development of solar and wind
sources of alternative energy. Will Texas be the last major state to
develop its third enormous potential energy source by developing its
biomass sources?
About the Author:
Lyle G. Reeser received his B.S. Degree in Agricultural Engineering from
the University of Illinois. After joining Caterpillar Tractor Co. in 1947,
he served in Hawaii, Caribbean Islands, Europe, Mexico, Africa, Central
and South America. His interests focused on assisting developing nations
improve their utilization of human and natural resources. His most current
interest is in the development of biomass energy sources.
Mr. Reeser has served in many organizations such as FAO, World Bank, and
U.N. agricultural missions to Bolivia, Venezuela and Egypt, a task force
member to study and report on the world food situation, Farm Cooperative
Advisor in Bolivia, President of Peoria Area (IL) World Affairs Council,
University of Illinois Advisory Committee to College of Agriculture and
Office of International Agriculture and Director of the International
Department of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, wherein he
holds a current life membership with over 57 years of membership.
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