Quote from piezoe:
The economics of ethanol from corn to use as a motor fuel are unfavorable as is the energy balance. This is a well established fact. Ethanol from sugar cane, however, can make economic sense and has been very successful in Brazil. I haven't seen any studies for ethanol from beets, but i'm sure they are out there. Cuba produces prodigious crops of sugar cane and the US is a producer of both sugar cane and sugar beets. Why is the US making ethanol from corn and burning it in cars? This makes no sense whatsoever.
Quote from tr51:
The US sugar industrie is one of the most protected/subsidized ag industries in the world. US sugar prices are protected at levels well above world market. The US sugar industry is lorded over by the very rich, powerful and politically influential Fanjul Family. Even the US government is hesitant to mess with this family.
Quote from piezoe:
Are you suggesting that the price of cane and beets in the US is supported at such an artificially high level that it is economically not feasible to make ethanol out of cane or beets in the US?
Well, if that's the case why not support ethanol production from cane in Cuba and buy ethanol from Cuba, and in exchange Cuba could buy the stuff we're good at making, video games and Kentucky Fried Chicken.