. . "The idea that biofuels - made from plants such as sugar beet or corn - can re-emerge as an alternative to oil is gaining currency - in Europe, the US and, not least, in Brazil, where the military government first started thinking about biodiesel during the 1970s oil crisis. ...The era of easy oil may be over, acknowledges Chevron's chief technology officer, Don Paul, but his message is nevertheles" . . .