Plugging the energy gap with hybrid strategy

President Bush's focus last week on expansion of the ethanol industry was accompanied by sky-high corn prices. That's a stark reminder for consumers and policymakers about the food-vs.-fuel tradeoffs the nation faces.

By Neal St. Anthony, Star Tribune
President Bush's focus last week on expansion of the ethanol industry was accompanied by sky-high corn prices. That's a stark reminder for consumers and policymakers about the food-vs.-fuel tradeoffs the nation faces.

Can we grow enough corn or other fuel stocks to supply one-quarter of motor fuels over the next 20 years?

The experts say no. There's not enough corn and soybeans grown to fuel our future, independent of the Middle East and our own dwindling supply of easy-to-tap oil reserves.

But that leaves a great opportunity for more-efficient vehicles and the emergence of "plug-in hybrid" cars.story continued