The TR story I mentioned previously does address sugarcane as a source of biofuel, but only in passing because the crop grows in only a few portions of the US and therefore isn't capable of contributing much to the market.

Sugarcane is considered a far better stock for ethanol because it produces higher sugar levels and better crop yields, which is partly why Brazil, with its semi-tropical climate, has emerged as an ethanol leader.

We could import some of theirs, but political interests succeeded in placing a 54-cent-a-gallon tariff on imported ethanol to protect corn growers. But that may change.

According to Gristmill, Sen. Richard Lugar (a Republican) of Indiana (a big corn state) urged the removal of that tariff in a speech before the American Enterprise Institute. The speech link is behind a paid firewall, but Gristmill quotes Lugar's reasoning for the change as a way to show leadership in the world.

I'm generally against protectionism, since it usually raises prices and only slows — but doesn't prevent — the demise of whatever is being protected, so I'm pleased at this prospect. But I'm even more pleased that on a gre

en topic, a senator is calling for the US to lead.

One of the more stupid rationales that anti-green forces have used to oppose climate-helpful regulation in this country has been, "Why should I? They're not doing it..." That's partly the point. We're supposed to be world leaders. But leaders lead. They don't whine.