McNeely,
I am wondering if you would like to elaborate on and support your statement
below? My understanding is that biomass harvesting is an extremely broad and
developing area, potentially including corn, corn stover, miscanthus,
switchgrass, energycane, woody plants, agave, algae, and many test transitions
from currently degraded lands. It seems that corn ethanol production using
conventional agricultural practices cannot be done sustainably; how about all
the other approaches, or whatever may be on the horizon?
Ben Greenfield
McNeely wrote (snip):
>
> And of course, you were
> referring to harvesting of biomass for industrial
> production
> of fuels. I think the data are pretty much in,
> and it
> cannot be done sustainably.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:52:29 -0500
> From: "David L. McNeely" <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: Ecosystems and Energy Biofuels
> Homage to Principle or Deceptive Fraud?
>
> ---- Wayne Tyson <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> > Ecolog:
> >
> > Whilst "researching" something else, I came
> across
> this interesting item and website. I have not delved
> into
> the details, but couldn't help but stumble when I came
> to:
> "The challenge is to provide a methodology and
> relevant
> information for all Article 17(c) categories that an
> operator can follow to avoid these grassland areas."
> >
> > I am struck by the implicit presumption (perhaps
> well-calculated evidence exists, but I am ignorant of
> it)
> that ANY kind of "biofuel" production has any net
> positive
> effect upon any ecosystem, or, for that matter, that
> any
> such production even pencils out on the positive side
> of an
> net-energy calculation.
> >
> > I stand ready to be educated to the contrary.
>
> Wayne, since you used the word "any" and emphasized it
> in
> your query, I will point out that many societies over
> a very
> long time have harvested wood for fuel in a
> sustainable
> manner. Of course, societies have also harvested
> wood
> for fuel in tragically unsustainable manner as
> population
> pressure has built up. And of course, you were
> referring to harvesting of biomass for industrial
> production
> of fuels. I think the data are pretty much in, and
> it
> cannot be done sustainably. And of course, just
> because something is sustainable does not mean that
> the base
> ecosystem has not been affected.
>
> Just my quick thoughts. mcneely
> >
> > WT
> >
>
