AP: Ethanol industry poised for surge in fuel made from crop waste

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130203/MONEY/702039940/1707#ethanol-industry-poised-for-surge-in-fuel-made-from-crop-waste

The Associated Press

DES MOINES — After decades of talk, the ethanol industry is building multimillion-dollar refineries in several states that will use corn plant residue, wood scraps and even garbage to produce the fuel additive.

The breakthrough comes at a key time for the industry, after the drought heightened criticism about the vast amount of corn used to brew up ethanol rather than be transformed into animal feed or other foods. The corn crop already was smaller than expected because of drought last year, and livestock groups were especially critical of how the 40 percent of the crop being diverted toward ethanol caused corn prices to soar.

The new cellulosic ethanol technology could quiet that criticism while also making use of material largely seen as worthless.

Experts said it hasn't been easy.

FULL story at link.

Photo: http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OW&Date=20130203&Category=MONEY&ArtNo=702039940&Ref=AR&Profile=1697&maxw=598&maxh=400

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The ethanol industry is building refineries in several states to produce cellulosic ethanol, thanks to technological advances that were a long time coming. Corn cobs, seen here piled up on a South Dakota farm, are one of the corn waste products that are key to this kind of ethanol.

[NickB79]

1. Crop residue is worthless? I think not

Have we really become so detached from the land that we are now incapable of seeing how vital it is that biomass be left to reinvigorate the soils? That all we see is another way to make short-term profits, future generations be damned?

By the time this insanity comes to an end, my great-grandchildren will be trying to subsistence farm on sand and rock in what was once the breadbasket of the world.

[thatgemguy]

2. Industrial Hemp is a solution

We need to allow farmers to grow hemp.