ALTERNATIVE FUELS - GM'S GOAL: NON-GRAIN ETHANOL AT S1 PER GALLON

摘要

Ethanol is viewed as a promising way to reduce dependence on imported oil in the U.S. In fact, the new Energy Independence and Security Act calls for a large increase in biofuels from 7.5 billion gallons in 2012 to 36 billion gallons in 2022. Corn- and other grain-based ethanols could account for up to 15 billion gallons of these biofuels. Unfortunately, biofuels have to compete with use of the same grains for food. The answer is cellulosic ethanol made from the cellulose that's present in every plant. Unlike grain-based ethanol, the whole plant can be used and not just the grain, which means greater ethanol yield per acre. Also, waste materials discarded every year- like urban wood waste, mill residues, corn stover, and wheat straw - could create enough ethanol to meet as much as 30 percent of U.S. fuel needs.