Tough times for ethanol

In addition to hurting the wind power industry (below and here) the recession is hurting ethanol producers. It used to be that corn-based fuel was cheaper than refined petroleum, so gasoline producers were mixing in as much ethanol as they could get away with. Now that demand for fuel is down due to the economic slump, governmental requirements that producers mix in some ethanol are costing producers more than expected.

From what little I know, corn-based ethanol is just a bad idea to begin with. I support cellulosic ethanol production (i.e. that from bio-waste materials such as the wood chips and corn stalks mentioned in the article) but it's hard to imagine that turning food for people into food for cars makes economic sense. Of course, I can see why corn producers like it, but that's another issue!

An Economic Solution to an Environmental Problem

Washington DC is considering taxing plastic bags to internalize the environmental externality they create. This article has the usual whining and semi-legitimate arguments we saw a few years ago out in San Francisco, but it gives short shrift to what for me is a huge point: if people will just learn to bring bags with them when the go grocery shopping, they won't have to pay the tax! How hard is it to grab a handful of plastic bags before you head out the door, or just keep some in your car? Sure, it takes getting used to, but that's all we're talking about- learning a new habit. Amazing how excited people get about such a small fee that seems like it will actually do some good.

Oops, sorry- I guess this one gets my hackles up a bit!

Biomethane for Oslo buses

Oslo, Norway is using biomethane to fuel its public transportation. The increase in carbon dioxide emissions in the city (more than 50% since 2000) and the increase in pollution (approximately 10% since 2000) has lead the Oslo City Council to begin investigating alternatives to fossil fuel-powered public transport, and it decided on biomethane because it emits less carbon and is easier and cheaper to produce. Norway’s goal is to be carbon neutral by 2050 and Oslo aims to be one of the most environmentally sustainable capitals of the world. The net emissions of a biomethane operated bus are zero since the carbon originated from the atmosphere rather than fossil fuels. Even when taking into consideration the electricity used at the sewage plant to convert the gas from waste into fuel, the Oslo city council calculated that carbon emissions per bus are 18 tonnes per year, a saving of 44 tonnes of C0₂ per bus per year.

Oslo has two sewage plants with enough biomethane to provide fuel for 80 buses. If the trial is successful Oslo city council plans to convert all 400 of the public buses to run on biogas. It is the council’s hope that cars will also be able to run on biogas.

I think it is an idea worth exploring. So far it has been working for Sweden. It would also reduce noise pollution (buses which run on biomethane are quieter), and we could also use it for our domestic uses such as residential heating or to generate electricity. We shouldn’t let our waste go to waste so to speak, and I know that in some states (Wisconsin for example with the “Dairyland Power Cooperative") animal wastes are being converted into biomethane and used to power their generators as opposed to letting them run into streams. All in all I think that the environment and humankind would be better off. “Yes to poo power”.

--Christine Wanjiru

Why do we need to worry about producer surplus just as much as we do consumer surplus? There are many reasons, one of which is that some producers make some pretty cool stuff. The economic downturn is really slowing the advance of green energy in places that are most able to expand it, because companies are suffering. From the New York Times (link):

“I thought if there was any industry that was bulletproof, it was that industry,” said Rich Mattern, the mayor of West Fargo, N.D., where DMI Industries of Fargo operates a plant that makes towers for wind turbines. Though the flat Dakotas are among the best places in the world for wind farms, DMI recently announced a cut of about 20 percent of its work force because of falling sales.

California Water Shortage

The water shortage predicted in the article posted earlier is definitely a reality in this California city: if a household consumes more than 150 gallons of water per day (on average over a month) they could have their water turned off! Extreme measures forced by a drought that appears worse than anything in the past 150 years. Ouch!

Organic agriculture fights climate change

Brand new research from Switzerland describes how organic agriculture causes an EXTERNALITY in terms of mitigating climate change. "Organic agriculture addresses both emission avoidance and carbon sequestration. The first is achieved through lower N2O emissions (due to lower nitrogen input; 1-2% of the nitrogen applied to farming systems is emitted as N2O, irrespective of the form of the N input), less CO2 emissions through erosion (as, due to the better soil structure and more plant cover, less erosion usually occurs in organic farming systems than in conventional ones) and lower CO2 emissions from farming system inputs (this mainly refers to pesticides and fertilizers that are currently and for the foreseeable future mainly produced employing fossil fuel). Sequestration (both temporary and long-term) takes place through differences in cultivation practices (such as increased application of organic manures, use of intercrops and green manures, higher share of perennial grasslands and trees or hedges etc.) and changed soil characteristics (higher soil organic matter content and thus higher organic carbon content, better soil structure). Given the size of the agricultural sector on a global scale, the potential for mitigation via OA is huge. Of course more detailed assessment of the concrete potential duly differentiated according to climatic zones, local climatic conditions, variations in crops and cultivation practices, etc. is till needed.

Chrysler announced last Thursday plans to debut an ENVI electric car to the public by 2010. Chrysler has a couple of models in mind, including Jeep, minivan, and sports car prototypes . The cars can go 40 miles on battery alone for a 150 to 200 mile range. ENVI are charged on a standard 110-volt outlet, which are found in most homes.
The company is currently testing 100 electric vehicles and one key concern is battery life . One idea put forward was leasing the batteries to buyers, who can exchange dead batteries for recharged power sources. Also, small interior generators are in development that can produce enough electricity to keep the car running on little gasoline for 400 miles.
Another economic issue with the batteries is the infrastructure needed to support battery recharging . Creating battery stations would only be effective once economies of scale, when a large-scale company gains a cost advantage due to their size, is reached. In this example, it would not be cost effective for Chrysler to supply battery stations that require numerous batteries and workers to until they have enough ENVI vehicles out on the road.
I have a hard time believing that these vehicles will be on the road by 2010 due to the current economic climate. Chrysler was already bailed out in 1979 for 1.5 million, received billions in the last bailout, and fired 32,000 workers. Despite their efforts to go green, the cost of the ENVI cars will defer the public from buying and the cost of research and development will hinder Chrysler from keeping their 2010 promise. Overall, I think this is a step in the right direction but at the wrong time.
--Jessica Wilson