Friday, May 05, 2006

I have seen the future and... the future looks just like the past, about 500 years ago. Scientists, biologists, engineers and businessmen have determined that switchgrass can be used to make cellulose based ethanol. If you're not aware, switchgrass is the plant that has covered most of the Great Plains and Central Canada since the last Ice Age. It's what the American Bison liked to eat before we decided to use them as target practice and move all our unwanted Indians onto their land. And switchgrass, when not being eaten, or ripped out by farmers, will grow to the asstonishing heights of six to eight feet. Also, switchgrass, unlike the uber-lobbiest ADM favorite - corn, doesn't require lots of fertilizer made from coal or natural gas to grow. It also has an energy output that is 343% higher than corn based ethanol. Switchgrass will grow anywhere there's a little dirt and an occaisional rain. It's also perennial so it never has to be planted again. Hay machinery can be used to harvest it. But don't take my word on it. Goldman Sachs believes in it too, to the tune of $27 million. This news, could not come at a better time.