(Page 5 of 7)
By one estimate, there are at least a billion tons of unused organic waste in the U.S. alone that could be converted into ethanol. For instance, paper sludge from paper mills, currently dumped at a cost to the mill, can be turned into ethanol. Because of these advantages, cellulosic ethanol or "biomass ethanol" is finding backers across the energy spectrum. The drawback is that, right now, the conversion technologies are too costly.
One Step at a Time
In his State of the Union speech, President Bush promised to increase funding for "cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol," such as cellulosic ethanol, with the intention that these new kinds of ethanol could be on the market within six years.
Similarly, the Union of Concerned Scientists backs cellulosic ethanol over its kernel-based sibling. "One of the benefits of cellulosic ethanol," says UCS' MacKenzie, "is that its production can be much more efficient and, on net, could require a lot less energy."
Could cellulosic ethanol solve the energy problem? Steven E. Koonin, chief scientist for the BP energy company and former provost of the California Institute of Technology, thinks it could at least make a big dent. He has written that biofuels, notably cellulosic ethanol, "could supply some 30 percent of global demand in an environmentally responsible manner without affecting food production." Others believe that biomass ethanol could completely replace gasoline.
General Motors is running a "Live Green, Go Yellow" campaign to promote the use of E85 in flex-fuel cars. As far as what kind of ethanol is used, the company is keeping an open mind. "We just want to have more ethanol for our customers," says Dave Barthmuss, manager for public policy, environmental and energy issues at GM. In Florida, he says, suppliers could use citrus crops to make ethanol. "Corn ethanol is just the first step."
For GM and others, ethanol -- from whatever source -- is a stopgap on the way to a real solution.
Juice Boxes
It's the 21st Century. So where are the electrical cars?
Some people think of a car powered only by electricity as a plug-in vehicle, and seeing one these days is about as rare as sighting Bigfoot. But for GM, "A hydrogen fuel-cell car is an electrical vehicle," says Barthmuss, because the fuel cell is a small electrical generator in the car. (continued...)
|
Rackspace: It makes a difference when you focus on support.
House Lawmakers Push Ban on Peer-to-Peer Software
GAO: Los Alamos Computer Security Has Weaknesses
Computer Security Firm Fortinet Plans IPO This Week
Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings
New Pogoplug 'Personal Cloud' Does Social Networking
Apple Tablet Rumored Delayed as Publisher Gears Up
Smartphones: A Bigger Target for Security Threats
FBI Says Hackers Targeting Law Firms, PR Companies