Ethanol plants come with hidden cost: Water
By Bill Lambrecht
POST-DISPATCH WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF
Sunday, Apr. 15 2007
ROGERSVILLE, Mo. — David Pitts doesn't begrudge the farmers and investors who
see a new ethanol plant as a way to make some good money.
He's just worried he won't have any water to drink when they're through.
The former state conservation official was horrified by news that a thirsty
ethanol plant might rise up near his home in southwestern Missouri. The plant
would draw 1.3 million gallons of water from the ground every day to produce
the corn-based fuel.
Then there's the 400,000 gallons per day of contaminated water from the plant —
water that would be sprayed on land around the plant by irrigation equipment
and then seep back into the ground.
GRAPHIC: Water is Critical to Ethanol Production
Ethanol production and use for propulsion is not the best idea. This is just another reason why it is not very practical, and there are other, better alternatives.
Efficiency of photosynthesis ~1-2%
Energy required to till soil, plant crops, and spray if needed
Energy required to harvest, and transport grain
Energy required to produce fertilizer to replenish soil, and note that soil will still become depleted and need recovery
Energy required to produce ethanol
Energy required to transport/distribute ethonal
Efficiency of engines that burn ethanol ~20%
We should be focusing on direct wind and solar generation of electricity. I could charge my motorcycle off 5 ft sq of solar panels, which would work for 20-40 yrs.
From: http://www.pnm.com/customers/sky_blue.htm
Not sure how much energy they generate per day, but if it was 10% of this, than it would be 489.6 mwhrs. At about 10 kwhrs to charge a car sized EV per day, this could charge 48960 cars. EVs don't take much electricity, not much more than your hot water heater and stove/microwave combined. Small EVs like scooters/motorcycles take much less. Sorry for the random ranting...
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Avatar taken from http://www.electricmotorbike.org/
Anyone got one they might want to sell?
My KZ750 Project: here E.T.A. 1 mo
[url=/forum-topic/motorcycles-and-large-scooters/587-my-kz750-electric-motorcycle-project]KZ750 Motorcycle Conversion[/url]
[url=/forum-topic/motorcycles-and-large-scooters/588-fixing-my-chinese-scooter]900 watt scooter[/url]
Pic from http://www.electri
`Sure would be nice it our Government was straight up with us. :( }:) :O :? :jawdrop: :sick:
Wonder whats in the 400,000 gallons per day of contaminated water from the plant — water that would be sprayed on land around the plant by irrigation equipment and then seep back into the ground.
Peace Out,
Gman
Now that we have clarified our beliefs, your invited to join us as we begin building on them to define our Community Mission Statement
Peace Out, <img src="http://tinyurl.com/ysafbn">
Gman
`Found this about how Ethanol is made, but nothing on the contents of the contaminated water produced.
Peace Out,
Gman
Now that we have clarified our beliefs, your invited to join us as we begin building on them to define our Community Mission Statement
Peace Out, <img src="http://tinyurl.com/ysafbn">
Gman