Natural Gas as Bridge Fuel

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Natural gas is gaining attention and is being promoted as a bridge fuel to a lower-carbon, sustainable energy future with reduced greenhouse gas (carbon) emissions. Natural Gas Supply Association reports that the environmental impact of natural gas is less than other fossil fuels. The Potential Gas Committee reports the United States has a total available future supply of 2,074 Tcf. Much of the recent upward (25%) reassessment comes from active and newly developing shale-gas formations.

Food vs. Fuel

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The global food supply crisis is causing many countries to rethink the biofuel mandates. Crop production for bio-fuel means reductions in grain and soy growing, which (along with market speculation) leads to an increase in prices.
New attention is being given to affordable grains versus the need for renewable energy from biofuels.

Will you help Mother Nature save the Earth?

Environmental advocacy is going beyond the activists rallies. Individual responsibility and contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change is being recognized. Will
consumer behaviour change to reduce consumption? Reducing the consumption of goods and services is a goal of environmentalists to achieve sustainability. What is the economic impact of the reductions? Who will set the global greenhouse gas budget? Will it be based on today's consumption per country or some future ideal "equitable" allocation of carbon dioxide equivalents.

Will we be forced to purchase carbon offsets as a new tax? Will the do-it-yourself crowd be allowed any thoreauvian-lifestyle deductions for their vegetarian diet or backyard garden?

Biofuel

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We have hit a few bumps during the race for alternatives to fossil fuels. First generation biofuels have limitations including threatening food supplies and biodiversity.





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Lifecycle analysis of the production of ethanol from corn and biodiesel from soy shows only modest net energy gains when you subtract the energy costs of fuel production, pesticide use, transportation, and by-products that remain.

Second generation biofuels are being developed to attempt a transition to producing more sustainable feedstocks. Cellulosic ethanol made from grasses like switchgrass, prairie grasses, or Sugarcane bagasse waste is emerging as the favorite to overcome the environmental and economic challenges.