‘Bug juice’ could be key in cutting energy dependency

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)

Thanks to biotechnology breakthroughs, supporters of alternative energy sources say that after decades of unfulfilled promise and billions in government corn subsidies, energy companies may be able to produce ethanol easily and inexpensively.

“The process is like making grain alcohol, or brewing beer, but on a much bigger scale,” said Nathanael Greene, an analyst with the environmental non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council. “The technologies are out there to do this, but we need to convince the public this is real and not just a science project.”

AP