Governors Want To Expand Ethanol Limitations
Switchgrass, A Biofuel Option
I’ve been writing about ethanol for the past few years by following the expansion of this alternative fuel source from a niche product into one with widespread potential. Admittedly, ethanol’s distribution network is too limited, its fuel efficiency drops by about 30% when compared to equivalent vehicles running on straight gasoline, prices are still too high, and government support is keeping cheaper sugar cane from being imported to supplement the current production process.
In other words, ethanol just isn’t as viable as some would like you to believe it is, at least at this stage in its development.
The governors of America’s 50 states recently convened to discuss a number of matters, including ethanol. With 134 ethanol plants operating in 26 states and another 77 under construction, the stake that many states have in helping the country achieve energy independence is huge, particularly for those states with large corn production, the chief ingredient of American ethanol.
Fortunately, there appears that some are finally getting it that corn isn’t the only ingredient that can make ethanol. The governors are calling for switchgrass (pictured) and wood waste products to also be used and are asking General Motors to help them find appropriate places to place new E85 pumps. To date, GM has helped to bring 300 pumps online over the past three years while taking a financial stake in two producers of cellulosic ethanol, Coskata Inc. and Mascoma Corp.
GM has said that it wants to make half of its 2012 production ethanol capable provided that the current distribution network continues to grow. Outside of the Upper Midwest ethanol plants are difficult to find with some states still with no pumps available.
In related news, President Bush continues to push for an end to the ban against offshore drilling with presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain (R) supporting the president’s effort. Sen. Barack Obama (D) has stated his opposition to ending the ban. Both presidential candidates are in support of developing other energy sources and have expressed their interest in seeing ethanol production expanded.
Further Reading
GM, Governors Will Work to Expand Ethanol Distribution in U.S.
Governors say ethanol needs a supplement
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4 Responses to “Governors Want To Expand Ethanol Limitations”
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July 16th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Ethanol will not solve our oil crisis, it will only create more problems. The only way we’re going to get gas back down to a decent price will be expanding options EVERYWHERE and utilizing all forms of energy (not just oil). This will be a HUGE topic in the US elections in November.
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July 18th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
First I’ve heard of Switchgrass as an option. Kind of takes the wind out of the sales of people using increased food prices as a deterrent for using ethanol (competition for the corn)
30% drop in efficiency is still a problem though, especially until ethanol prices take a major drop.
August 1st, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Norcal switch grass is a viable alternative. I blogged about it not so long back.
More importantly though ethanol is only as viable as we want to make it. If we don’t build infrastructure and processing plants for it, then it will always be expensive. The only way to bring the cost down is use crops which can be efficiently converted to ethanol and use local processors for local distribution. It doesn’t take a huge processor to produce it either. I have a friend who is in the process of phasing out his families farm in south east Indiana and the production facility they are building will cost less than $400k and be more than sufficient for the 25k acres of switch grass they hope to have grown locally over the next ten years.
For those that don’t know studies show switch grass can provide between 1000 and 1500 gallons of ethanol per acre with most test showing about 1150 gallons per acre over several years.
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