Transcript Biofuels - Regional School District 17

Biofuels
The Future
By: Matt Waldman
Vocabulary
• Biofuel
• Global Warming
• Food vs. Fuel
• Flex Fuel
Vehicle(FFV)
• Ponscum
The Issue
• Gas prices are at an all
time high. (Easy oil is
gone!)
• Fossil fuels are running
out.
• Some middle class
families cannot afford
gas.
• Taxes don’t help either.
David Kiley
www.businessweek.com/.../01/ford_banking_on.
html
The Issue Continued….
• The theory of
Global Warming.
• Very substantial
evidence
concluding the
theory.
• Biofuel use would
increase national
energy security
rural development.
www.des.state.nh.us/ARD/ClimateChange/science.htm
The issue continued…
• Biofuel prodcution has
raised prices of corn.
(Food security)
• Driving up world food
prices.
The issue……
• May cause problems
in car parts. (older
cars)
• Each biofuel has
certain problems.
MZ-10
Biodiesel & Ethanol Yields
Feedstock
Yield (g/acre)
Yield (gge/acre)
African Palm Oil
635
668
Coconut Palm Oil
287
302
Avocado Oil
282
297
Jatropha Oil
202
213
Rapeseed Oil
127
134
Mustard Seed Oil
61
64
Soybean Oil
48
51
Algae Oil
500-20,000
526-21,052
Sugar Beet
714
476
Sugar Cane
662
441
Sweet Potato
613
409
Cassava
410
273
Sweet Sorghum
374
249
Corn Grain
354
236
Wheat
277
185
Corn Stover
100
67
Pahl 2005
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/ethanol_yield_calculator.html
The issue
• Should biofuels be used as an alternative
to Gasoline and other petroleum energy
sources, or should Connecticut and the
rest of the world develop other natural
resource methods in order to wean off of
petroleum energy?
Historical Timeline
• In 1896, Henry Ford built his first automobile to
run on pure ethanol. (Quadricycle)
• In 1900, Diesel engine was invented
• Ford also built his first “flex fuel” car in 1908.
(Model T)
• In Early 1990’s, millions of gallons of ethanol
were used during war.
• early 1900’s, large supplies of crude oil were
discovered in Pennsylvania and Texas.
• Gasoline was then used as the fuel of choice
because of its cheaper price.
Historic Timeline continued…
• Mid 1940’s, ethanol was again used increasingly during
war.
• 1950’s, ethanol usage drastically decreased.
• 1970’s, fuel shortages lead to a revived interest in
biodiesel by consumers, but the government hustles to
subsidize the petroleum market. Maintains its rep as an
"alternative" fuel.
• 1980, 50 millions gallons of ethanol are produced.
• 1985, Ford Motor Co. manufactures the first flex-fuel
vehicles capable of running on gas, ethanol, or
methanol.
Historical timeline continued…
• 2000, renewed interest in biofuels has
been. (High oil prices, global warming,
ect.)
• 2001, Flex Fuel vehicles (FFV) start to be
produced in the United States.
• 2007, over 6 million FFV’s running in the
U.S.
• March 2008, approximately 1600 ethanol
(E85) stations have been built in the U.S.
http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jkohara/Biofuels_10_13_06.pdf
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/
FLAG_POLICY_DURING_THE_1973_oil_crisis.gif
Scope of Issue
• Geographical
• Economical
• Societal
Measures taken to amend the issue
• Three biodiesel plants were
constructed in CT’s attempt to catch
up with biofuels. (Fuel previously
unavailable)
• The Connecticut Center for Advanced
• Technology offered $ 5 mil in gov.
grants.
Which Side Do I Chose?
• I am for developing
biofuels and choosing
them as the primary
energy source to take
fossil fuels places.
• If The U.S. puts the
right programs using
the right generation of
biofuels into place,
than in less than a 15
years, biofuels will
stand as the new
primary energy source.
Mandate #1
• CT doesn’t have
much to offer
when it comes to
biofuels. (Very
few fuel sites)
• Not climate
oriented for
growth. (Algae)
• Not cost effective
to buy biofuels
from other states
or countries.
http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Media/images/art-algae-f09ed0f5-a431-4f7b-9a9d846d5883facf.jpg
Mandate #1
• CT must have a
certain number
of Algae plants
by 2015
• Algae is most
profitable and
can be grown in
CT’s climate.
http://www.ccsu.edu/admaffairs/j0362649%5B1%5D.jpg
Mandate #1
• The economy state is
strong.
• low unemployment rates.
• Income of state residents
in one of the highest in the
country.
• $43,173 average income
Mandate #1
• In order to gain money to build and run plants,
an extra tax must be put onto certain products.
• Wealthy families will have higher costs than
lower class families.
• 200 acres of land should be planned out for
implementation of plan.
• By, 2012 or 2013, the building of these plants
will be started.
• By 2015, CT will be able to supply the state with
biodiesel for automobiles.
Mandate #2
http://i.treehugger.com/files/b20.jpg
• Creating fuel centers to
distribute biofuel.
• By 2018 there must be
10-15 distribution
centers spread
throughout the state.
• By 2020 there must be
20
• The government must
give CT companies tax
breaks. (Construction,
engineering, ect)
• The government must
also not pursue any
other biofuel than algae.
Mandate #2
• Economy provides safe environment for
development.
• The high average income allows the
government to tax the wealthy and big
companies who in turn receive tax breaks.
• People will be more willing to comply if
they can be shown that they will benefit in
the long run
Mandate #3
http://www.treehugger.com/solazyme-test-car-b100.jpg
• The cars that run on
this biofuel must be put
on the production line
by 2012.(GM)
• By 2020 half of the
residents in the state
must have one of these
cars.
• In order to help the
U.S. economy, there
must be no foreign car
importing.
• Everyone benefits if
money stays in country.
Mandate #3
• The American Motor
companies will make the
cars with a guarantee that
people will buy them.
• People must comply.
(Cheap Cars)
• Car companies sell cars
for cheaper price,
because of government
help.
• Profit within 10 years of
the completed plan.
video
• http://www.alternative-energynews.info/technology/biofuels/
Bibliography
• Riminton, Hugh. “Green Blog: Drinking from a fuel tank?
Makes sense to me”. Riminton, Hugh. 7/1/2008
CNN.com/Asia
http:www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/01/green.hu
ghblog3/index.htnl
• O’brien, Miles. Pinescum Without Pine. O’brien, Miles.
2008. Cnn.com http://www.alternative-energynews.info/technology/biofuels/
• Zauscher, Melanie. Biofuels: “History, Current Use and
policy.”
http://weber.ucsd.edu/~jkohara/Biofuels_10_13_06.pdf
• Pahl, G. (2005), Biodiesel: Growing a New Economy,
Chelsea Green.
• Schubert, C. (2006), “Can Biofuels Finally take Center
Stage” Nature Biotechnology 24 (7).
Bibliography
• Lewis, Leo. “Biofuels Make Useful villain
for food crisis” The Times. June 4,
2008http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news
/world/article4061208.ece
• Burkhalter, Sarah K. “A Lighthearted Look
at Biofuels Through Time”. December 4,
2006.
http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/1
2/04/history/
Bibliography
• Treehugger.com
http://www.treehugger.com/solazyme-testcar-b100.jpg
“End of Cheap Food.” Economist. Dec 6,
2007.
http://www.economist.com/opinion/display
story.cfm?story_id=10252015