An AP story came out today warning (again) that the Saudis will probably not be able to keep up with our oil demand . You know things are bad when the Saudis are telling us […]
Cheap Gas Is Not An Entitlement
There was a letter to the editor this week in the Billings Gazette entitled There’s no good reason for such high gas prices (1). Ironically, the letter came from Wyoming, which at the time had […]
How Reliable are Those USDA Ethanol Studies?
Introduction The pro-ethanol contingent is quick to point to certain studies published by the USDA to support the claim that the energy balance of grain-ethanol is positive. Many anti-ethanol advocates will point to studies by […]
A Primer on Gasoline Pricing
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 […]
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, […]