There was a story today in the Detroit Free Press on rising gasoline prices (1). Two items caught my attention: “We’ve seen a dramatic increase in gasoline prices,” said Mark Routt, a senior consultant with […]
Author: Robert Rapier
Biodiesel: King of Alternative Fuels
OK, maybe not the king yet. But if we judge based on the merits, biodiesel is head and shoulders above ethanol. Let’s take a closer look at it. Biodiesel has a couple of huge advantages […]
Exchange with an Ethanol Advocate
I am working on a biodiesel post, but I am having an exchange with an ethanol advocate that is worth capturing here. Over at the blog 7 Deadly Sins, a number of fallacious arguments in […]
Ethanol from Biomass: A Sustainable Option?
The Promise of Cellulosic Ethanol I have mentioned a couple of times the research I was involved in during graduate school. I have provided a couple of links (under “Links”) that describe this research in […]
Improving the Prospects for Grain Ethanol
In my previous essay, you probably gathered that I am not enamored with grain-derived ethanol. I consider it to be a kind of fool’s gold that looks nice and shiny to the general public. Considering […]
Grain-Derived Ethanol: The Emperor’s New Clothes
Energy security. Homegrown fuels. Better markets for our farmers. And by gosh, it’s good for the environment. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Where do I sign up? However, the truth behind grain-derived ethanol is masked behind […]
About Me
The mission of R-Squared is to foster open discussions of Energy and the Environment. My career has been devoted to energy issues. (See my resume for specifics). I have worked on cellulosic ethanol, butanol production, […]
My CV
Updated 3/22/2019 Or if you prefer, my resume. I want to emphasize that I am not looking for a job. But people sometimes ask me for my CV or resume, or they want to know […]
My Resume
Updated 3/22/2019 Or if you prefer, my CV, which has more specific details on patents and professional accomplishments. In a nutshell, my passions are energy, the environment, and sustainability. I have worked on a wide […]