So far I have heard reasons why each one (ethanol, hydrogen, solar, and whatever else) won't be able to replace oil. What do you guys think?

- More diesel genarators
- Natural gas power generators
- Wind turbines
- Hydroelectric
- Nuclear energy
- A central solar power system
- Coal
- Wave Power
- Growing crops to convert to Ethanol/Biodiesel to burn in a power plant

PLEASE explain why and talk about the pros and cons. Try to mitigate or solve each con. For example, if you chose solar power, is there gonna be no power all the time at night? PLS i need opinions.

Ethanol is currently produced by fermentation of corn. There are other ways such as the fermentation of whole plants, like "switchgrass", a native North American grass. How ecology friendly is ethanol -- its use, it production by various methods?

The company would use grass clippings, compost, and other non-edible plant parts and produce cellulosic ethanol. We would also sell units that run on this fuel. The company would collect the glass clippings, etc sort of like a garbage pick up. Where should I start? Money is not an obstacle.

Oil Palm plantations are growing at rapid rates in the tropical nations of Indonesia and Malaysia. These lands were once covered by upwards to 90% rain forest just a century ago, while that has declined presently to less than 50%. This is due largely to oil palm plantations. Palm oil has been used historically as a cooking and cosmetics additive with other uses. However, the palm oil industry is now booming with its realization of clean energy. Europe has turned to this clean energy in hopes of reducing the global warming problem. Palm oil is about 8-10 times as efficient as ethanol for power. However, rainforests are being slashed and burned at record rates in these nations, to make room for more palm oil plantations. These areas which were a rich are for trees and plants as well as animals are now being turned into an oil palm monoculture for profits. Think about how the atmosphere is effected when dense rain forests are being burnt down at blinding speeds.

It's a joke! First, there's the debate on whether or not there is actually MORE energy used to process the corn to get the ethanol than the ethanol is worth. At best, right now there is a 1:1.2 ration of energy in to energy out. That's not even close for something to run a nation on, especially a culture that uses the most energy per capita in the world.

Second, there isn't enough farm land in the world to plant enough corn to supply enough energy to the people of america. We're talking automobiles, homes, factories, businesses...we'd probably need 5 planets of corn with continuous cultivation.

Third, there is the whole nitrogen problem. Corn is a very inefficient plant at taking in nitrogen. Nitrogen has to be manufactured and poured all over the fields so that the corn grows fast and large enough. This requires even more energy, more pollution, and a big mess if corn plantations continue to spread with this new demand.
And please, don't even bring up palm oil...if you think that global warming is impacted by man, then using palm oil as an alternative energy may be the thing that kills us all.
And don't forget about all of the energy required to grow and cultivate corn...you don't just plant corn seeds and watch it grow...corn is one of the more difficult plants to grow. It requires huge fields to be plowed, machines to plant it, machines to cultivate it...all of those machines run on fossil fuels, and if you want them to run on ethanol, you're going to be getting even less out of the yield if you factor all of that in.

Or, we can do it all by hand and see a fraction of the yield.
Kerry, shut the fuck up. Ethanol is a type of alcohol, that comes from CORN. That is what I'm talking about. Ethanol. Not alcohol. I never mentioned alcohol in my post. And ethanol is the alternative energy source that is being presented and marketed by two of the top leaders in the United States. And shut the fuck up about other forms of energy...I am asking why anyone thinks ETHANOL is a solution, because it's such a hot topic.

And yes, I know why it is being marketed. Corporations like Monsanto and Archer Daniels Midland are making a fortune off of this. Monsanto owns patents on the corn genome that is grown in this country, producing corn that only produces sterile seed, forcing farmers to rebuy fertile seeds from them annually. And this is why farmers in Mexico can no longer afford to grow their own corn.

Is Ethanol the answer? I read that Brazil is using sugar cane for bio-fuel. Be it corn, soybeans, or sugar cane, growing bio-fuels will strongly deplete our soils without using heavy fertilizers.Can we possibly harness wind and solar power for all our energy sources? Some of these technologies may exist, but they are not being allowed to be used. Even a car that runs on water.

How to mix the constituents that make Ethanol gel fuel as a renewable cooking energy, stating what amount of a chemical is to be add to the other chemical constituents and how they are to be added.

they say we have 40 years left in oil but they also warn that the reserves will slow down dramatically way before then, what will you think will happen if we are not prepared or have a viable alternative
ethanol is a joke it is already causing havoc with the price of corn

I understand that at present if our economy were to suddenly adjust to a green economy, there would be a serious crisis. For one, renewable energy sources are not very reliable, and may need to be subsidized similar to how ethanol is subsidized. But with sufficient research and development, could the US economy remain strong or become even stronger runnng almost exclusively on renewable sources?

OK, I used to be all gung-ho about ethanol, but I have heard too many bad things about it. For one, ethanol takes as much energy to produce as it releases. Also, it will be MORE expensive than gas, and pollute almost the same amount.

Biodiesel seems to be a good one, but it may damage engines over long periods of time, as it contains water.

So what is going to be the actual alternative energy that replaces gasoline? Heck, I may even drive one, as long as it meets my few but strict standards:

1. It has to cost less than, or at least no more than, gasoline.
2. It has to take no more time to fill up than gasoline.
3. My car can sacrifice no performance due to it.
4. My car can be no more expensive due to it.

All-electric cars MAY work, but the problem will be having "energy-stations" around the country, and also charging a vehicle quickly, like filling it up with fuel. An overnight charge will be no good for someone on a cross-country trip.

So, what will it be, and why?
I asked this in politics because it will be a BIG issue in a few years.