"Ad absurdum per aspera" <jtchew@california.com> wrote in message

There are all sorts of arguments, some almost Biblical in their emotional
scope.

Ethanol can be a decent quality fuel, technically.  Of that, there is no
doubt.

The energy balance issue is to some degree an invalid argument if the people
MUST have a liquid fuel and petroleum becomes too scarce to use.

Recently,  however, there were published figures that indicated that every
square inch  of arable land in the USA would have to be devoted to ethanol
cropping, and it still wouldn't be enough.

If the worst happens, a war in the Middle East for example, we might be
rationing
gasoline sooner than later.

Hydrogen fuel is a long way away.  It works fine, but where energy is
already
an issue, hydrogen is hard to come by.  Sustainable fusion reactors might
make
it work....but not soon.

IMHO, biodiesel offers some hope, especially if motor companies can make
small efficient diesel engines that can take advantage of it, and then they
incorporate it into sensible cars.

If you believe the worst of the doomsday sages, things could get bad
very quickly.  I think there is definitely 'smoke', but am not sure if it is
fire.