alt.energy.renewable

In summary, we can make 100, 900, and 180,000 gallons an acre per year
of gasoline fuel equivalent using biodiesel, cellulosic ethanol, and
photovoltaics respectively.

If the entire state of Iowa was used to make biodiesel, 35.8 million
acres (total land area) at 100
gallons acre (actual production is around 60 for soybeans to a high of
150 for high yield rapeseed). If you do the math that is 3.5 billion
gallons per year. The total farm area is 349 million acres in the
U.S. Actual Iowa cropland is 23.3 million acres.

It should be noted the highest yield of biodiesel
comes from algae at 1000 gallons per acre or more. Also if Iowa
farmers went to biodiesel, I would expect 5-10% yield gains annually
due to hybrids and bioengineering. Furthermore, the waste product
after biodiesel production still has uses as feed.

For ethanol we produced 285 gallons per acre in 1995 using corn. In
2004 we produced 385 gallons per acre. There are estimates by 2015
yield will be 600 gallons per acre. Furthermore there is cellulosic
ethanol with estimates as high as 1500-2000 gallons per acre.
Cellulosic uses wood and plant stems, it can also be used with corn.
But, also on more marginal lands and feedstocks such as Nebraska
switchgrass or even city green waste. Ethanol has about 2/3 the
energy content of gasoline and probably about 1/2 compared to diesel
and the diesel engine.

To run the entire country on diesel would take about 150 billion
gallons or about 500 gallons per person a year. Thus, 3.5 billion
gallons would be enough for 7 million people. For cellulosic ethanol
it would be about 30 million people.

Since immigration to the United States is about 3 million, 2 million
of it legally. We can use the whole state of Iowa to fuel two years
on immigration. To convert Iowa to biodiesel would take probably
about 5 years.

The population of Mexico and the US.

USA-Mexico (MM-million)
1900 76 MM-14MM
1950 161MM-26MM
2000 291MM-100MM
2050 438MM-180MM

Mexico is growing even though net migration is positive. Basically
Mexico is using the United States as a place to put their extra
population. The increase population will put demand on our resources
and thus higher prices.

So in summary vote against legal and illegal immigration and be pro-
choice. To be fair with Mexico, I think we should allow free travel
to work and vacation between the countries as long as you spend 6
months a year in your home country. Thus your home country would be
responsible for your family, schooling, and medical. As for the
immigrants already here, I think we could give them $5,000 and
possibly a kit home to take back with them

Now there are other energy sources wind and solar specifically
photovoltaics. In Spain wind accounts for about 30% of total
electricity, more than hydroelectric. But, assume the entire state of
Iowa was covered with photovoltaics. 17 watts per square foot (could
potentially be 35 watts per square foot with 40% efficient cells).
43,560 square feet in a acre. 5 sun-hours a day (7 sun-hours a day in
Inyokern California). 250 WHrs/mile for a Prius. 30 miles in a
gallon. Do the math you get 493 gallons of equivalent gas in a DAY.
In a year, you get 180,000 equivalent gallons per acre. Furthermore,
the panels can be put on building killing 2 birds with one stone. If
you install one 3.5 megawatt windmill on an acre, you will get 876,000
equivalent gallons per acre. I think I get fuel for 13 billion people
from Iowa from photovoltaics. However, with all the black solar
panels covering a large area this may increase global warming.

There is another energy source no one is talking about the geothermal
heat near the ocean ridges. Probably the easiest to extract too, drop
a pipe to the ocean floor and the heat will rise automatically in the
pipe. Thermal solar, can store and make electricity at night.