Powering with palm oil.

AuthorWashburn, Richard A.
PositionLetter to the Editor

Regarding your article "Funding Brazil's Future," by Louisa Aronow [November-December, 2004]: Brazil has some 100,000 hectares in palm oil (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), one of the highest yielding oils per hectare crops and a renewable resource. I wonder why this plantation crop was not mentioned in the article, with either positive or negative comments as to its sustainability for providing an alternative to fossil fuel? As a footnote: we were successful in using palm oil mixed with diesel as a farm tractor fuel in Central America, but it was not economically viable at the time (1976).

Richard A. Washburn

West Warwick, Rhode Island

Author's reply: Palm has the potential of providing a great source of oil...

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