Guy's Books and Thoughts

I heard on the radio, that even "mainstream" types are saying that ethanol is not an answer to our energy needs. In a way I find this amusing. About 29 years ago, one of my relatives did a feasibility study dealing with using grain for fuel, for a Mid Western University. He concluded that such a program was not feasible. The university thanked him for his study and hired another economist. Well at least the "mainstream" study is right about ethanol. I don't think their suggestion of using hydrogen is sound. More energy is utilized in obtaining the hydrogen, than the energy produced by the hydrogen.

I talked to someone who holds patents in alternate fuels. He mentioned that South Africa has met it's energy needs by turning coal into fuel. I believe he said the coal is turned into fuels such as gasoline, oil and kerosene. The technology to convert coal into fuel, was originated by the Germans. The South Africans came up with an improved process. I did a Google search and found an article from the Billings Gazette dated May 21, 2005. The article mentions the efforts of Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer to utilize the coal to oil technology for some coal deposits in Montana. Why isn't this being done in other parts of the country? Apparently this coal to oil conversion is environmentally friendly. The South Africans have been utilizing the coal to oil technology for years, because it could not import oil. I understand that our coal reserves can last us 300 years. This person who holds patents in Alternate fuels also mentioned that New Zealand has been utilizing its natural gas deposits and converting some of it to gasoline. He also mentioned that investments in certain types of solar technologies could pay big dividends. In one magazine devoted to energy issues, I learned that there are different types of solar technologies besides the standard solar panels. These solar panels are limited to daylight hours or at most 12 hours. There is another type of solar technology which could produce energy up to 20 hours. I think more research should be given to this alternate technology.

And since our country has been concerned about waste and landfills, why
not work on converting trash into energy? There is a plant in Brooks, Oregon which has been turning garbage into electricity. Why can't this be done in other parts of the country. I also read about 15 years ago, that the Canadian government was working on a project to turn sewage into oil. Turning waste into energy is a way to kill two birds with one stone: provide energy and save on landfill.

And speaking of waste, I understand there is a way to treat nuclear wastes resulting in zero radioactivity with important metals such as titanium and copper as by products. But for some reason, this method of treating radioactive wastes has not been adopted on a wide scale.

There are many exciting ways to address the issue of meeting our energy needs. We need not limit ourselves to "conventional" ways of generating energy.