GMNext? Greenwashing, Round 2

Frank Williams
by Frank Williams

GM seems to think their first attempt at countering greenwashing accusations was successful. So now they're readying their Web 1.99 GMNext website for round two. Who's up? Well, you may recall that GM stopped selling everything it owns to buy into an ethanol start-up called Coskata. (Car Czar Bob Lutz: "They put a bunch of bacteria in there that basically just eat and poop, eat and poop.") Tomorrow at 1pm EST, Coskata's CMO will participate in a GM "green chat." Wes Bolsen is expected to discuss Coskata's subservience to partnership with GM and how their ethanol-pooping bacteria will someday, eventually, turn garbage into an endless supply of low-cost, pollution-free fuel. While we expect Bolsen will be a lot more forthcoming than GM's chief of American sales ops, Brent Dewar, what's the bet a GM minder will be breathing down Bolsen's neck? Anyway, the session is open to the public. We expect loitering members of TTAC's Best and Brightest to test the limits of free speech, and report back on our follow-up post.

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  • Supremebrougham Supremebrougham on Feb 21, 2008
    NICKNICK : February 21st, 2008 at 11:38 am Czar Bob Lutz: “They put a bunch of bacteria in there that basically just eat and poop, eat and poop.” Sounds like he’s talking about the Board of Bystanders. Hopefully by this afternoon I'll be able to stop laughing....I've got things to do!!!
  • Shaker Shaker on Feb 21, 2008

    I wish he'd make up his mind, just recently, Global Warming was "a crock of shit". I wonder what he calls his wife's creamed chipped beef on toast...

  • David C. Holzman David C. Holzman on Feb 21, 2008

    Don't laugh. Bacteria can do amazing things, and they are likely to play an important role in the future of liquid fuel. They also are often involved in fermentation. Furthermore, you have around several pounds of bacteria in your GI tract, which help protect you from various ailments. Bacteria: it's the only culture some people have.

  • SherbornSean SherbornSean on Feb 21, 2008

    Given the increasing demand for energy and the rapid improvements in genetic manipulation of crops, it's easy to foresee a future in which landfills and sewage become our sources of energy, as bacteria convert waste to ethanol and biodiesel. Who knows, you might even be able to do this at home, just like gardeners with compost piles.

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