National Geographic: The Biofuels Dream

The October issue of National Geographic focuses on biofuels. As could be expected, the author comes down hard on the dream of corn ethanol. The real promise of biofuels, Joel Bourne stresses, lies in cellulosic sources -- stalks, leaves, sawdust -- as opposed to foodstuffs like corn, sugar and soy. Cellulosic ethanol remains a big 'if' both technologically and economically (there is currently no large-scale commercial production of the stuff), but if the potential can be unlocked and cars can be made to burn fuel far more efficiently, then biofuels could one day deliver both independence from petroleum and sharply reduced carbon emissions.

National Geographic, October 2007