Straw and wood chips in line as sources of clean energy

Biotech and energy companies are racing to glean ultra-clean fuel from untapped sources like straw and wood chips, betting policies to tackle climate change and rising food prices will make it competitive with oil.
Heartened by last year’s record crude prices and rising awareness of global warming, many governments and deep-pocketed venture capitalists believe in the fuel – cellulosic ethanol.
Tougher policies to combat climate change – such as carbon taxes – could bring it into direct competition with oil, given that it produces far less of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, compared to fossil fuels.
Gulf Times