Vilsack's emphasis: Make ethanol more available

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Friday, December 24, 2010 10:51 AM
(Source: The Gazette - Cedar Rapids, Iowa)By Dave DeWitte, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Dec. 24--U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack thinks soon-to-be announced federal grants for cellulosic ethanol plants are helping boost flagging ethanol support in Congress.

Vilsack said the government plans to announce measures in early 2011 to provide support for advanced biofuels and cellosic ethanol plants 'in all areas of the country.' We need to do more than just rely on cornbased ethanol,' Vilsack told The Gazette Editorial Board Thursday. 'There's a lot of resistance to that.' Vilsack said part of the opposition is based on a misunderstanding of how efficient corn-based ethanol production has become, but he added that 'part of it's real.' The funding assistance to be announced early next year will help launch 'proof of concept' plants that will convert woody biomass into ethanol. Because of bark beetle infestations in the mountain west, Vilsack said disposing of waste would could supply a large amount of cellulosic material.

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