China's alternative to coal?

[Guest Tony n Terrific]

The peanut shells, corn stalks and even tree bark are dried, ground and re-purposed. The end result: Biomass pellets that can be used as a replacement for coal.

Shengchang Bioenergy also makes a line of stoves and boilers in which the pellets can be burned. The company says the stoves are up to five times more energy efficient than traditional coal boilers and are slightly cheaper to operate.

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/...coal/index.html

[Carl]

At the home of Ying's parents they use cornstalks and corncobs as fuel for the "big wok cookstove."

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2674/4193449747_ebdb07e06e.jpg

 

Whereas the small stove her mom uses to heat water uses coal.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4193459223_126a750747_o.jpg