What is the future of corn-based and cellulosic ethanol?
According to analysis by the National Corn Growers Association, U.S. corn growers hold the potential to produce 15 billion bushels by 2015, a third of which could be used to produce some 15 billion gallons of ethanol15x15x15. In addition to grain, American farmers will be a vital supplier of cellulosic material, in the form of corn stalks, switchgrass, wheat straw and other agricultural waste products. It is estimated that America can sustainably supply 1.3 billion tons of biomass, i.e. cellulosic material, a year. That would equate to approximately 60 billion gallons of annual ethanol production. Contributions from Americas fields, farms and forests could result in the production of 86 billion gallons of ethanol and 1.2 billion gallons of biodiesel, which has the potential to decrease gasoline consumption by 59 billion gallons in 2025 Source: 25% Renewable Energy for the United States By 2025: Agricultural and Economic Impacts, English, et al., University of Tennesse, November 2006.
