UI's Voigt: Switchgrass, Other Biomass Crops To Be Featured at Farm Progress Show

DECATUR - Visitors to this year's Farm Progress Show will have the chance to see what many researchers consider the future of renewable energy.

University of Illinois students are partnering with the Agricultural Watershed Institute and other groups to bring large perennial plants such as switchgrass and miscanthus to Progress City USA. Researchers are testing uses for the biomass of the plants in hopes of one day replacing corn as the main ingredient in ethanol.

"I don't see corn going anywhere," said Frank Dohleman, a graduate student overseeing the upkeep of the plants at the site. "Most projections show corn leveling off."

Ethanol is commonly made using cornstarch. However, Dohleman said data has shown switchgrass has double the ethanol yield per acre compared with corn.

Researchers are particularly interested in what they're finding out about miscanthus.

"Miscanthus is the most productive energy grass," said Steve John, the watershed institute's executive director. "Miscanthus is going to be the champion of those efforts."

http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2007/06/20/news/local_news/1024325.txt