Stover to fill part of ethanol goal

Estimates of 5 billion gallons of fuel per year from stalks and cobs fall well short of 60 billion gallons by 2030.

The biotechnology industry estimates that 5 billion gallons of fuel ethanol could be produced annually from corn stalks, leaves and cobs left after the grain is harvested and also could help to combat global warming.

That is roughly the amount of ethanol now being distilled from corn, which means that it will take a lot more than corn and stover to reach the Department of Energy’s target of producing 60 billion gallons of ethanol a year by 2030 from various sources of biomass.

A leading ethanol producer, the Broin Cos., announced plans on Monday to build a facility at an existing ethanol plant in Emmetsburg to convert stover as well as corn into alcohol.

Des Moines Register