Wednesday, June 8, 2005

In her May 23 news story, "In Africa, Lifting the Pall of Smoke From Cooking," Susan P. Williams emphasized the severity of indoor air pollution in developing-world households. Charcoal has been suggested as a remedy because it burns more cleanly than nonprocessed biomass fuels. However, the appetite for charcoal has also been a major cause of deforestation across Africa.

Alcohol fuels can respond to the scope and scale of the household energy problem in Africa while creating a market for agricultural waste and flared (and noncommercial) natural gas. Both ethanol and methanol can be locally procured in Africa and are affordable, clean-burning and safe.

ANDREW C. STOKES

Assistant Director

Project Gaia Ethiopia

Gettysburg, Pa.

Project Gaia Ethiopia promotes the use of alcohol fuels derived from wasted or underused resources for daily household needs. It is funded by the Shell Foundation, Dometic AB and the Environmental Protection Agency's Partnership for Clean Indoor Air.