Ethanol could be basis of new "energy partnership" between U.S., Brazil
Last week, U.S. Undersecretary of State R. Nicholas Burns visited Brazil for meetings to figure out what the new "energy partnership" between the two countries would look like. Brazil and the U.S. are already the world's two largest ethanol producers, and the partnership looks to cement that leadership. Burns told the Washington Post, "It's clearly in our interests - Brazil's and the United States's - that we expand the global market for biofuels, particularly ethanol, and that it become a global commodity of sorts." The idea that it will offset the power that oil-rich Venezuela has in the region is also attractive to the U.S.
The WaPo says a deal is expected sometime within a year that encourages Latin American countries to make and use more biofuel. The U.S. and Brazil would also share more biofuel technology under the plan. Uruguay's MercoPress reported that the deal is expected as early as March, when U.S. President Bush visits Brazil. Burns' discussion topics with Brazilian officials included ethanol standards and building a joint ethanol plant in the Caribbean.
[Source: MercoPress, Washington Post via Cindy Zimmerman / Domestic Fuel]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tony Belding 7:56AM (2/16/2007)
The USA is also one of the world's major oil producers -- yet for some reason hasn't been invited into OPEC. Could it be because the US is a huge net importer of oil? The same would appear to be true of ethanol, there is no reasonable prospect of the USA exporting ethanol. Furthermore, my understanding is that Brazilian ethanol (and sugar!) is shut out from the US by current trade rules. You can thank the corn and sugar producers who lobbied to keep it out. So. . . What basis does that leave the US for any kind of partnership with Brazil, I wonder?
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rick 9:01AM (2/12/2007)
Why do we need Brazil?
Read MIT's January report on Garbage-to-ethanol. Ethanol will be made for under $1/gal. It can account for 25% of annual consumption of gasoline. Seriously, we have more garbage than anybody. Read third from last paragraph.
http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/18084/
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Xoham 7:18PM (2/13/2007)
Ethanol is only slightly better than the bad idea that is Hydrogen Fuel Cells. You are burning gobs or coal to produce electricity to sort, move, dispose of, and convert garbage to ethanol. This is similar to corn ethanol. Instead you could put that electricity towards electric cars and save on polution and energy. Anytime you are moving and converting anything, that is all energy usage that is very likely, far less efficient that electrical transmission of energy on our current grid and lithium ion batteries. Also, Brazil has far fewer car owners than we do and they have the entire rain forest to slash and burn to make room for corn. If you said, Oh Shit, you would be right.
http://www.efcf.com/reports/E17.pdf
http://www.alumni.umn.edu/Corn_Wont_Save_the_Planet.html
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