PA Gov. Rendell Touts Economic, Environmental Potential of Cellulosic Biofuels for Chesapeake Bay Watershed States

The Wall Street Journal - MarketWatch
Last update: 3:05 p.m. EDT Sept. 4, 2008

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept 04, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Says Pennsylvania Positioned to Lead National Movement Towards Next Generation Biofuels
With America's dependence on foreign oil jeopardizing its national security and way of life, Governor Edward G. Rendell said that the commonwealth and other Chesapeake Bay watershed states can emerge as the national leader in developing advanced homegrown alternatives by following the recommendations of a report that was issued today.

The report, Next Generation Biofuels: Taking the Policy Lead for the Nation, is the result of a nearly year-long effort led by the commonwealth and the Chesapeake Bay Commission to ensure that the region's states work in concert, and strategically, to maximize the economic and environmental benefits alternative fuels like cellulosic ethanol can yield.

"I firmly believe cellulosic ethanol could be to Pennsylvania and our neighboring states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed what corn-based ethanol has been to Iowa," said Governor Rendell. "Our region was blessed with many of the natural resources we need to develop these next generation alternative fuels. Cellulosic ethanol relies on feedstocks like wood chips and wood fibers, switchgrass, municipal waste and agricultural waste -- all things that we have in abundance throughout the region.

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