From oil dependence to local resilience

Alcohol Fuel for the North

Kia Ora All,

I was hoping to get to this weeks meeting but unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to make it. So I want to add something to the agenda if I may.

Its a bit of an uncomfortable one but I am finding myself in the ethanol camp more and more these days. But ....and there is a big but, it doesn't include what you are reading in the papers about food shortages and so on. It is infact very positive as it can sequester more carbon than it releases!

What I am talking about is local cooperative alcohol fuel production based on local organic agriculture for local consumption. I bought American Permaculturist David Blume's book "Alcohol can be a Gas!" where he dispels a whole bunch of myths and argues a very convincing case for local ethanol production utilising organic polyculture permaculture cropping systems as opposed to monocultural industrial farming processes currently used for ethanol production.

He backs his arguments up with some interesting figures as well. For example sugarcane cut on a 22 month cycle can yield over 3000litres/acre, typha reed over 7000l/a, comfrey at over 1000l/a. The list goes on but you can make significant volumes of ethanol fuel easily and on a local level by utilising a wide range of crops high in either sugar or starch content.

Personally I think transport fuel will be THE big issue for the Far North with its small population dispersed over a very large geographic area and Blume's local ethanol production could be the answer to that problem.

I reckon this is also something that Te Rarawa and other Maori organisations could be looking at for their regional development strategies. Imagine the flow of petrol dollars that currently leave the Far North suddenly flowing back into the community through the Te Rarawa ethanol cooperative. There is plenty of land and it is a market that will undoubtedly open significantly once peak oil becomes a real issue.

Go to www.alcoholcanbeagas.com if you want to have a look further. Or better still see David Blume speak at the Ecvoshow in Taupo in October.

Hope to get up there and see you all again soon.

Cheers
Richard Lee

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Deirdre Kent on October 14, 2008 at 9:59

Hello Richard. Yes I went to three of David Blume's talks at the Ecoshow which might explain why I didn't end up at the TT events. Fascinating. Good arguments. I still have more questions but I bought the DVD and am now wishing I invested in the book. Jo and Bryan must have done some good thinking and reading before inviting him to the Ecoshow and we all need to pay lots of attention to his arguments.

Permalink Reply by Richard Lee on October 15, 2008 at 20:00

Hi Deirdre,

To be honest I forgt that I had posted this way back in August.

I got David's book in late July. Jo and Bryan booked him almost imediately after I posted a comment on the Google Group way back then. So, I am quite relieved that he was worth the effort. If anything, I think a lot of people went away from the Ecoshow with a new found feeling of empowerment. Excellent stuff.

I also attended 3 of David's talks.... we should have all had name tags! ;o) I would have very much liked to meet you.

Unfortunately, I am no longer in the Far North. Now based in Warkworth but I hear his talk went well last night in Kaikohe with 140 people in attendence. Great turn out from Northland!

My understanding is that Jo and Bryan are getting some more books in, so it might be worth placing an order with them. In my opinion its worth every cent.

Cheers
Richard

Permalink Reply by Richard Lee on October 15, 2008 at 20:01