Biofuels to the Rescue — If the Recipe Is Found

The United States has enough land, water and transport capability to make cellulosic ethanol that could displace one-third of its gasoline needs in 2030, according to a study by a government laboratory, in partnership with General Motors.

But the study does not say how to actually make the fuel.
Sandia National Laboratories, part of the Energy Department, and G.M.’s research and development center conducted a seven-month study that concluded that production of 90 billion gallons – equivalent to 60 billion gallons of gasoline – was possible by 2030, and that the investment requirement was about the same as for producing that much gasoline.

The study assumed that “energy crops” — including fast-growing trees — would be planted, but that these would not impinge on land used for food crops.

Lawrence D. Burns, G.M.’s vice president of research & development and strategic planning, said that the study “basically hasn’t identified anything that says it can’t be done.’’

New York Times