Pubdate: Thu, 23 Feb 2006
Source: Parthenon, The (WV Edu)
Copyright: 2006 The Parthenon
Contact:  http://www.marshall.edu/parthenon/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2171
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hemp.htm (Hemp)

HEMP, VEGGIE OIL POSSIBLE ENERGY

At a recent National Coal Group meeting, Sen. Robert C. Byrd told 
audience members that coal needs to play a part in America's new 
energy policy in the coming years. During this past State of the 
Union, president Bush outlined a plan that would begin to phase out 
our reliance on foreign oil and look to more renewable resources.

Coal, however, is also a non-renewable resource and is just as bad 
for the environment. Coal has also been an energy staple in America 
since the beginning of the 20th century. How then can it be part of a 
"new" energy policy when it is a dinosaur from the old energy policy?

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss," is nothing new to Byrd, 
who has used coal to get and retain power, and to look like a 
crusader for worker rights while keeping the status quo in place.

Now he is trying to use coal to look like an advocate for alternative 
fuels. If he were really interested in alternative fuel systems, Byrd 
would look at the possibilities of vegetable oil and hemp.

Used vegetable oil is gaining popularity as a way to power diesel 
vehicles while the possibility of hemp mobiles could really transform 
the automobile industry. The possibility of hemp-powered cars is 
nothing new. Henry Ford built the first hemp mobile in 1937. The 
federal government, however, impounded the car and threatened to jail 
the auto-maker if he continued his research.

The genius of industrial hemp is it can be grown virtually anywhere 
at low cost. Industrial hemp bio-diesel is produced from hemp seed 
oil. Industrial hemp only contains tiny amounts of THC, unlike 
marijuana, which is a close plant cousin.

Oil must come from the Middle East and coal is mostly owned by out of 
state interests. The black diamond also releases mercury and arsenic 
into man-made sludge lakes during the refining process. Industrial 
hemp, on the other hand, could be grown and refined by and for West Virginians.

If it were legalized, hemp could boost West Virginia's economy and 
keep money in the state instead of letting outsiders fleece it. 
Senator Byrd does not want to help West Virginia. He just wants to 
maintain the status quo.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman