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What Teens Say...
Name: Garrett Lister
Essay Theme: Alternative Fuel Research |
State: Kansas
School: Marysville Elementary |
Alternative Fuel |
I just can't wait until our next family meal. When Mom asks
me to eat my vegetables, I've planned a great response. I will
respectfully say, "Mom, as much as I would love to eat
these vegetables, I should do my part in powering the future
with bioenergy!" After I stun her with my brilliance, I'm
sure I'll have to explain my theory.
Although not all vegetables are being considered as possible
energy sources, one common vegetable has found its way from
the table to the fuel tank. Corn is the main ingredient in ethanol,
which is rapidly gaining popularity as a renewable fuel source.
In my home state of Kansas alone, ethanol production doubled
in 2001. We boast five ethanol plants with more plants under
construction. These five plants use about 26 million bushels
of grain to produce between 65 and 70 million gallons of ethanol
fuel. That's good news for farmers in the heartland and for
local economies by creating employment opportunities in rural
communities.
Ethanol's advantages don't stop there. With the highest octane
rating available, ethanol allows cars to run smoother and keeps
fuel systems clean for best performance. Ethanol also reduces
air pollution by burning cleaner to reduce tailpipe emissions
and greenhouse gas emissions, which add to global warming.
Another oxygenated bioenergy source making its way into t_ market
is biodiesel. This fuel source is made from such things as vegetable
oils, animal fats, and recycled cooking grease. Biodiesel is
a cleaner-burning replacement for petroleum diesel.
Nearly half of biodiesel production is from vegetable oils,
most commonly soy. Because of product surpluses in recent years,
soybean prices have declined. Soybean producers are therefore
especially interested in biodiesel as an energy source of the
future. I think it's interesting that since most farm machines
run off diesel, it seems that biodiesel has made its way from
the farm as soybeans back to the farm as fuel. That's what I
call renewable!
Although ethanol and biodiesel are renewable fuels that promise
to power the future, they could be short-lived because of another
energy source: methanol. Although most methanol production currently
is from natural gas, it can be made from renewable sources such
as seaweed, waste wood, and garbage. Methanol is currently being
researched for its ability to produce hydrogen for the fuel
cells that could power electrical vehicles within the next decade.
As methanol is further explored, I think it would be exciting
to see research looking into production from renewable sources
such as agricultural by-products. If animal waste could be used,
it would give a new meaning to my chore of cleaning our barn
of sheep and cow manure!
It's exciting to think of the possibility of living in a world
powered by our own renewable agricultural products. It seems
better to me to lessen our dependence on foreign oil and rely
more on American agriculture. The same people that we rely on
to feed us could help power our country into the future.
References:
| Alternative Fuels Data Center. 2002. Homepage,
20 September, |
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<http://www.afdcweb.nrel.gov> (07 October 2002) |
| Biodiesel. 2002. Homepage, 06 October, <http://www.biodiesel.org> |
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(07 October 2002) |
| California Energy Commission. 2002. Homepage,
4 October, |
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<http://www.consumerenergycenter.coID> (07 October2002) |
| Energy Information Administration. 2002.
Homepage, 16 September, |
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<http://www.eia.doe.gov> (23 September 2002) |
| Global Climate Benefits of Methanol. 2002.
Homepage, 16 September, |
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<http://www.methanol.org> (07 October 2002) |
| Kansas Corn Growers Association. 2002.
Homepage, 23 September, |
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<http://www.ksgrains.com> (25 September 2002) |
| Renewable Fuels Association. 2002. Homepage,
7 October, |
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<http://www.ethanolrfa.org> (07 October 2002) |
| The Energy Project, Alternative Fuels. 2002.
Homepage, 14 March, |
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<http://www.ncsl.org> (23 September 2002) |
| U.S. Department of Energy Biofuels for Sustainable
Transportation. 2002. |
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Homepage, 12 August, <hup://www.ottdoe.gov> (07
October 2002) |
This essay was part of a 2003 essay contest sponsored by
Council for Agricultural Science & Technology.
Click here to see how essays were
selected.
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