In the previous installment, a commenter noted that ethanol is not truly renewable since ethanol plants require natural gas to operate. Today, the Wall Street Journal [sub. req'd.] reports that this is a problem possibly solved by poop:
Panda Energy International Inc. plans in the coming months to begin construction on a plant in Hereford that will produce 100 million gallons of ethanol a year. To Panda, the manure eliminates the need to burn expensive natural gas in ethanol production. To Hereford's farmers, the arrangement is the answer to a prayer, and they have signed contracts agreeing to give their manure to the company free of charge.
Like ethanol itself, it isn't a complete solution, but it's a start.
Hooray! Applause for a more inclusively oilless solution. And poop is funny.
Our energy problems are not insurmountable but great... FOR ME TO POOP ON!