The reason I spend time debunking wild claims is that I think they damage the entire bioenergy sector in the long run. People who issue press releases claiming they can produce fuel for $1/gallon – […]
Ethanol, Imports, and the MTBE Effect
I am traveling later this week, and will be on the road for nine days (Colorado, New York, Massachusetts). I was trying to wrap up the loose ends from my previous post with a much […]
Does Ethanol Reduce Petroleum Imports?
One of the main arguments in favor of ethanol production in the U.S. is that it supports the goals of energy independence by getting us off of foreign oil. After all, we could just tell […]
CNG in Your Beer
Thanks to a reader for this story: Cheap Natural Gas Drives Truck Alternatives NEW YORK (Dow Jones) – If you order a beer in New York, the odds are growing that it was delivered by […]
Gas Taxes and Long Range Energy Planning
I consider the level of dependence of the U.S. on imported petroleum to be a very large financial risk endangering the country’s future. There are certainly other import-related risks as well, but here I want […]
Book Review: Crude World
Introduction It succors and drowns human life. And for the last eight years, oil — and the people and places that make it — was my obsession. – Peter Maass Today a new book by […]
About That $72 Billion Subsidy
I am going to be pretty busy for the next few days, and probably won’t be able to put anything new up until at least mid-week. Until then, over the past few days there have […]
The API on Cap and Trade
Yesterday the American Petroleum Institute conducted a blogger’s conference call to talk about various energy issues that they are focused on. I used to regularly attend these calls, but things have been quite busy and […]
Another “New” Thermochemical Approach
Thanks to a reader for bringing this story to my attention: Segetis: Making a Brand New Biochemical The Minnesota-based startup turns cellulosic biomass into something called levulinic ketal, a brand-new molecule that can be made […]
Brazil Flexing Its Muscles
A couple of years ago I was thinking about the possible fates of various nations in a world in which depleting oil reserves begin to have a very strong impact on oil prices. I had […]