On Thu, 06 Apr 2006 17:18:15 GMT, "Private"
wrote:


"Roger" wrote in message
.. .
On Tue, 04 Apr 2006 21:15:11 -0500, Greg Copeland
wrote:

On Thu, 09 Mar 2006 00:10:48 -0500, Roger wrote:
The thing is, at present yields we can not come near producing enough
to make it competitive. We'd need about 5 to 6 times the acreage in
corn than we have at present just to feed our cars. If you do the
math that doesn't leave much of anything for growing food.

This is why many are looking to hemp as our source for ethanol.
Using current technology, hemp yeilds almost twice the ethanol per acre
corn does. Hemp does not require pesticides and is drought resistent.
snip
but there are many other uses as you stated that could wring the last
penny per pound out of the stuff.


I have read that the hemp fiber is longer and tougher than the celulose?
fiber from wood normally used to produce paper. This shorter wood fiber is
further shortened by the pulping process durring recycling and requires the
addition of new fiber in the process to create quality recycled paper. One
of the largest sources of raw material for paper is now what is termed the
urban forest of waste paper. It is suggested that the best place for future
paper mills is not close to the trees but rather close to the waste paper
and that the addition of hemp fiber to waste paper will mean we will not
want to cut as many trees.

The last I read it takes more energy to recycle paper than to make new
paper. OTOH trees used for pulp grow quite fast which makes it/them a
renewable energy and material source. So which way is really best for
the environment and economy
?

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com