# alternative energy sources

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-energy-sources/273711>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [November 8, 2004, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-energy-sources/273711 "2004-11-08T20:41:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wraskin411](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f07891/32.png) [@wraskin411](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wraskin411)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-energy-sources/273711/1 "2004-11-08T20:41:47Z")

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Last year Cecil had an article showing that ethanol might very well require more  
energy to produce than it would ever return. Whether or not this case is right or  
not, the principle is certainly of critical importance to the country’s energy  
problem. It applies to solar cells, windmills, and any alternative source.

I think Cecil should update this article because so many alternative  
energy advocates seem to forget about it.

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**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-energy-sources/273711/2 "2004-11-09T12:22:42Z")

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Welcome to the Straight Dope, **wraskin411**. Just FYI, it’s often useful to link to the column you’re commenting on – in this case _[What’s the true story on ethanol? (28-Nov-2003)](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/031128.html)_ – so that other people who are interested in your comment can jump directly to it.

I completely understand your comment on energy return on investment in alternative energy sources. However, I’m not sure that even **Cecil** could adequately cover the wide range of alternative energy sources and varying assumptions in a single column. In fact, the ethanol column as is engendered quite a lengthy thread ([Ethanol as Fuel](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=225910&highlight=ethanol)) debating the conclusions of the column, filled with claims and counterclaims. Actually quite interesting, if you’re into that kind of stuff.