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Sugar Cane Grows on Big Oil as $71 Billion Bet Outspends D.C.

Bloomberg -- BP Plc (BP/) has invested $7 billion in alternative energy since 2005. Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) is spending $600 million on a 10-year effort to turn algae into oil. And Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) has been buying up sugar cane mills, plantations and refineries to make ethanol in Brazil.

In the U.S., Shell already produces small lots of so-called drop-in biofuels--engine-ready products that can replace gasoline from a plant in Houston that uses sugar beets and crop waste.

On the way to a renewable energy future, a funny thing has happened: Big Oil has become the biggest investor in the race to create green fuels, Bloomberg Businessweek reports in its May 14 issue. In the last decade, the industry says, it has put $71 billion into zero- and low-emission and renewable energy technologies.

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Submitted May 10, 2012 By: angel4me

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99dakota Champion Author Providence Posts:8,255 Points:2,201,150 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 6:01:30 AM Ignore 99dakota Report Abuse ok
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 5:49:34 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse sugar cane is highly damaging to the environment in which it is grown. Would be better to grow sugar beets.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 15, 2012 5:46:41 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse kimo: no surprise here. Maybe to others.
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,144 Points:625,660 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 1:35:16 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse Thank you for posting.
sydb7 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,657 Points:1,941,890 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 8:32:39 AM Ignore sydb7 Report Abuse Is Big Oil trying to corner the Alternative fuels market??
HawaiianGuy Champion Author Idaho Posts:9,665 Points:3,106,590 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 7:40:30 AM Ignore HawaiianGuy Report Abuse Big Oil HAS to have something to screw the people with once all the crude is played out.
nb52 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:7,920 Points:1,574,550 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 6:18:14 AM Ignore nb52 Report Abuse SWEET!
bcok Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,181 Points:1,555,520 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 1:36:45 AM Ignore bcok Report Abuse Sounds like we're getting off oil and the sugar cane.
2bigtanks All-Star Author Akron Posts:772 Points:371,610 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 1:15:51 AM Ignore 2bigtanks Report Abuse Car runs like crap but has sweetest exhaust in neighborhood.
Quick68 Champion Author Columbus Posts:8,453 Points:1,254,475 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 1:14:08 AM Ignore Quick68 Report Abuse The American people will have to make up that $71 Billion bet. Big oil & a corrupt government will never lose only taxpayers.
AuntJaime Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,869 Points:401,310 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 1:12:20 AM Ignore AuntJaime Report Abuse yipes
livewire300 Champion Author South Carolina Posts:3,515 Points:173,185 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 1:12:19 AM Ignore livewire300 Report Abuse Old...
Jmac2008 Champion Author Missouri Posts:2,416 Points:908,840 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 1:08:27 AM Ignore Jmac2008 Report Abuse old news.
joezIN Champion Author Gary Posts:1,733 Points:347,360 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 1:07:07 AM Ignore joezIN Report Abuse YA
GasCzarCO Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:1,442 Points:825,005 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 1:06:50 AM Ignore GasCzarCO Report Abuse Does big oil have a crystal ball?
nomad228 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,143 Points:580,215 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 1:05:43 AM Ignore nomad228 Report Abuse they better diversify or they are gonna find themselves at loss when people finally start buying alternative fuel vehicles.but this does not help U.S. right now.
etop8222 Veteran Author Reading Posts:429 Points:58,330 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 1:04:28 AM Ignore etop8222 Report Abuse Hard to believe.
Ron77095 Champion Author Houston Posts:3,205 Points:631,350 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 1:03:23 AM Ignore Ron77095 Report Abuse What!?
LostToo Champion Author Illinois Posts:4,392 Points:975,315 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:57:43 AM Ignore LostToo Report Abuse MMMMMMM Sugar kane...
Raider44 Champion Author Allentown Posts:1,069 Points:1,605,475 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:56:45 AM Ignore Raider44 Report Abuse Still don't like using any food stuff for energy.
jkpsr Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,212 Points:1,128,890 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:56:28 AM Ignore jkpsr Report Abuse Technology will give us freedom from imported oil!
TBONE3 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:8,886 Points:2,005,100 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:55:59 AM Ignore TBONE3 Report Abuse Lots of talk but nothing positive from it.
Buddy2264 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,802 Points:2,388,645 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:54:16 AM Ignore Buddy2264 Report Abuse No where puts a dent in their profits. I only hope they do not do like they have done in the past and buy up the patents and not use the new technology for the common good.
gus8441 Champion Author Baltimore Posts:2,249 Points:470,200 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:52:44 AM Ignore gus8441 Report Abuse options are always good
KhelbenArunson Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,586 Points:745,565 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:51:44 AM Ignore KhelbenArunson Report Abuse This sounds like massive big oil spin. Lets keep them out of alternative fuels. I want to be done with these companies when it is all over.
jerej829 Champion Author Memphis Posts:2,974 Points:720,725 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:49:49 AM Ignore jerej829 Report Abuse ok
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:6,125 Points:1,138,560 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:49:34 AM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse Just stop burning corn...
themaninthehat Champion Author New Orleans Posts:1,824 Points:472,265 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:43:20 AM Ignore themaninthehat Report Abuse BP doing the right thing?!
anascom Champion Author Hamilton Posts:1,593 Points:556,690 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:40:57 AM Ignore anascom Report Abuse good competitions to create alternatives to fossil fuel!
bobdec Champion Author Miami Posts:9,104 Points:1,797,520 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:40:49 AM Ignore bobdec Report Abuse Stop making Ethanol, it stinks
vibdata Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:4,186 Points:867,210 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:39:28 AM Ignore vibdata Report Abuse NatGas in cars. Burn it up. Cheap for now anyways.
miser709 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,268 Points:1,094,825 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:36:59 AM Ignore miser709 Report Abuse Ethanol is not the answer.
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:17,750 Points:3,520,455 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:35:52 AM Ignore DEG Report Abuse Ethanol is not the answer.
Thomtec Champion Author Nashville Posts:2,605 Points:636,370 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:34:39 AM Ignore Thomtec Report Abuse Ok another option.
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:10,004 Points:1,641,675 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:32:32 AM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse “Will [ethanol from sugar cane] be any more stable then corn ethanol when sitting in older engines and small engines?” NO. Ethanol is ethanol, regardless of the source. Sugar cane has some advantages as a feedstock but the result is still a low-energy fuel with bad side effects.
frostyWV Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,339 Points:519,235 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:30:24 AM Ignore frostyWV Report Abuse good
thuathienhue Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,589 Points:660,890 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:29:34 AM Ignore thuathienhue Report Abuse Okay, oil will someday run out.
jem069 Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,684 Points:715,755 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:29:26 AM Ignore jem069 Report Abuse Ok
Rageagainsttm Champion Author Tampa Posts:8,427 Points:1,928,860 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:29:24 AM Ignore Rageagainsttm Report Abuse yes
blk911 Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:2,928 Points:775,290 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:28:56 AM Ignore blk911 Report Abuse Looks like big oil wants to control that market to.
regout Champion Author Quebec Posts:3,100 Points:861,380 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:28:12 AM Ignore regout Report Abuse We will see.
chuckwthompson Champion Author Charlotte Posts:3,895 Points:604,885 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:27:41 AM Ignore chuckwthompson Report Abuse Time will tell.
txkrb Champion Author Texas Posts:1,597 Points:661,520 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:27:13 AM Ignore txkrb Report Abuse Better sugar cane than corn I think I read where they can use the scraps etc from the sugar cane to make ethanol Other questions remain, how much energy is required to make ethanol and how much water I read where it take almost as much energy to make ethanol and is derived in the final product, that may be with corm and not sugar cane though
abacus44 Champion Author Toms River Posts:3,605 Points:774,765 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:26:53 AM Ignore abacus44 Report Abuse Even from sugar cane, it's still ethanol! 1. Does it take more energy to produce then it yields in fuel energy like ethanol from corn? 2. Will this cause enough of a shift in acreage planted to raise food prices as corn ethanol has? 3. Will it be any more stable then corn ethanol when sitting in older engines and small engines?At least our tax dollars can be saved.
Jumpmaster82 All-Star Author South Carolina Posts:923 Points:864,190 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:21:49 AM Ignore Jumpmaster82 Report Abuse No plant derived fuel as efficient or clean burning as petroleum, but politics in this country stigmatizes oil, so why not divert attention to "alternative fuels" instead of drilling for our abundant oil resource right here at home?
gamalerin Champion Author Tampa Posts:4,882 Points:1,020,010 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:19:57 AM Ignore gamalerin Report Abuse Do you think it's going to work for us ?
NanaNJNJ Veteran Author New Jersey Posts:280 Points:56,025 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:18:44 AM Ignore NanaNJNJ Report Abuse *
crreed1 Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,105 Points:2,551,690 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:18:41 AM Ignore crreed1 Report Abuse go for it
VetteFan Champion Author Indiana Posts:9,884 Points:2,057,155 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:17:17 AM Ignore VetteFan Report Abuse Keep alternatives viable.
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:5,609 Points:800,300 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: May 11, 2012 12:17:08 AM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Sure, then they could lock up discoveries.