Farming For Fuel: The Political Economy Of Energy Sources In The United States [Hardcover]

As domestic and worldwide petroleum reserves dwindle, America's energy situation continues to worsen. Farming for Fuel offers a major investigation into producing methanol from biomass to replace reliance on petroleum fuels. Dovring's treatment of the topic is thorough and well-reasoned. He suggests that current problems facing the U.S.--vulnerable oil imports, farm surplus production, soil erosion, and air polution--could be eradicated by methanol production on a large scale. The proposed solution, if adopted, would also bring about profound changes in the national economy, including more decentralized industrial location. Dovring's conclusions are revolutionary, challenging general agreement on methanol use, future energy supplies, and energy policy. His innovative work will supply policy-makers and academics with a unified perspective on energy problems and an up-to-date summary of recent data.FOLKE DOVRING was a professor at the University of Illinois College of Agriculture, teaching land economics and economic development.

Four Problems--One Soution
The Petroleum Age
Replacing Petroleum: The Many Choices
Gasohol--A Blind Alley
Biomass Production as Land-Use Diversification
Biomass Production as Soil Conservation
Methanol Raw Materials: Possible Supplies and Costs
Converting Biomass to Methanol
Using Methanol in Vehicles
The Road Not Taken