This just in: Ethanol may soon be derived from sunflowers.
Sunny Sunflower
Okay, “soon” may be hopeful, but the idea is out there, and it’s pretty exciting for a number of reasons — not the least of which is envisioning a field of sunflowers replacing dirty oil pumping stations around the world.
So let’s see…instead of growing more and more corn, which depletes the soil (among other things), for fuel, farmers may be planting field-after-field with bright, sunshiny sunflowers to produce energy. The plants are pest and drought-resistant — aka less pesticide use and less water required. The big, fat flowers are favorites of bees, which need a much help as they can get these days. And, really, sunflowers grow just about anywhere there’s sun. So no war required?
Where today’s VW Beetle drivers are popping flowers in a tiny vase on the dashboard, tomorrow’s drivers may be popping flower (derivatives) into the tank! Once again, yay for flowers!
Tags: alternative fuel, ethanol, sunflower
