You are correct in your assessment – there is no solution for some ‘greens’ except living off brown rice grown in totally organic conditions – totally ‘off grid’. But only about 1% of them are doing it. The other 99% are living just like the rest of us – driving all sorts of vehicles, burning just as many gallons of fuel as the rest of us, using petroleum based plastics, using air-conditioning by the ton, and on and on . . .

The world cannot and will not live without energy – liquid fuels are needed or much of the world would starve in a few weeks. Liquid fuels are mandatory or we’ll have to move back to caves.

Jatropha Curcas plantations – small and large are being pursued in a big way around the world especially in India and Africa. Jatropha is a oil seed bearing shrub / bush that can live up to 50 years or so – producing oil seed as feed stock for biodiesel all those years starting before year two.

Jatropha is being planted on marginal lands, semi-arid / semi tropical and will provide a million billion tons of carbon dioxide consuming leaves to help relieve the carbon dioxide excess in our atmosphere (heard of global warning anyone?). And at the same time – Jatropha leaves breath oxygen back into the atmosphere. Jatropha is NOT being planted on burned downed rain forest – quite the opposite – it is being planted on near barren land – marginal soils – not in competition for food products.

Cordially – Joe-in-Texas
joegreene@terrasolbiofuels.com