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New Biofuel Source: From Trees to Tractors

Bryan Beer not only has a cool last name, but he also has a very cool idea for the future of fuel: Jatropha trees.

If you’re wondering what a Jatropha tree is, it’s a tree that is native to Central America, and it produces fruit with seeds that contain oil. This oil can be used to power diesel engines.

jatropha

Following the Lead

According to Roy Beckford, an agricultural scientist with the University of Florida, Caribbean nations have been using the fruit oil as biofuel for years, and countries like China, India and Brazil have already planted millions of acres of the Jatropha tree.

The U.S. was a little behind on this green initiative, but now that we know we are trying to figure out the best way to grow trees for future energy use.

Beckford believes that within the next five years we’ll have the technology to aid in the growth of Jatropha trees and other types of biofuel sources.

bryan beer

Beer apparently read about this, because he planted 30 acres of the trees next to his 2,5000 acres of citrus fruit.

He said that he just wants to produce enough oil to run his four tractors (which consume 120 gallons of fuel each per day) to keep his citrus business alive.

You can read the entire article here.

It just goes to show people that with a Beer and an idea, almost anything is possible!

That was a joke.

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Comments

  1. Scotty November 18, 2009 at 11:13 pm

    I just wanted to thank you very much for this illuminating article. I have already bookmarked your site, when I have more free time I am going to have to do some further browsing. Well back to my dreaming of Panama or back to the books - I wonder which one is going to win out. :)

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