Hmmm... Just what we need more food diverted to something other than feeding
people.  I have to preface this by saying I'm no pure vegetarian here so I'm
just as much a part of the problem as anyone else, but we're diverting
enough protein for the production of livestock--then we divert more of it to
biodiesel and I think we're further and further away from a sustainable
fuel.

And NOX and particulate matter, from what I've read, are not addressed by
switching from mineral diesel fuels to vegetable diesels.  The new TDIs are
amazing engineering feats to be sure--and I think they have catalytic
converters just like the old VW EcoDiesels, but if the USA ever adopts these
things on the scale that Europe has, we'll be cleaning soot off our
windowsills just like the Parisians do.

If any can send me something to read that can convince me otherwise send it
on!

Donald Baxter
'85 Vanagon GL (that I'm sure is just as filthy as it can be but Iowa isn't
testing emissions yet)
Iowa City

----- Original Message -----
From: "P. Stanhope" <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 10:05 PM
Subject: Re: Diesels on NPR this morning

> WORD!  yes Bio-diesel burns alot cleaner than
> synthetic diesel. If we could convince all our
> shipping companys to use bio-diesel, there would be
> alot less soot everywhere and alot more truck drivers
> living to the age of 60.
> With all the surplus corn and peanuts we produce, we
> should be able to power ALL diesels off of
> bio-diesel...and simultaniously taking the profit$
> away from the Saudis....talk about patriotism!
>
> Phil