Ag Secretary Predicts 5 Years Until Cellulosic Ethanol A Reality

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones) -- It will likely be five years before ethanol made from cellulose crops like switchgrass will be able to make a significant impact on the U.S. fuel market, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said Wednesday.

The technology to make cellulosic ethanol an economically viable fuel may be available as soon as three years from now, but there are other factors involved, Johanns told a gathering of students.

"Even if you have it in place in, let's say three years, and it's commercially viable, there's still a lead time to build plants, engineer and do all of those things," Johanns said. "I do think that it's probably going to be on the outer end of that three- to five-year schedule by the time you factor all of that in."

Dow Jones News Service, July 26, 2007