The multi-phase approaches by Ethtec, Coskata, ZeaChem, Solazyme, PetroSun, etc. appear to be much more sophisticated and promising than first generation approaches (corn ethanol, palm oil biodiesel etc) by ADM in N. America, and huge Chinese investors in SE Asia, etc.

All the outdated negative hype recently about the futility of biofuels, appears to be politically motivated, or motivated out of ignorance.

It takes time to scale the promising new approaches to biofuels and biomass to CHG. Attempts to cut off interest in biofuels at this point could not be more misinformed.

Comments about increases in food prices are not outdated. Concerns about clearing of forests for biofuel plantations is not outdated. Even research that points out that such clearing leads to significant CO2 increases is only outdated in detail and not in principle or probably conclusion.

It might be best not to go overboard with the corn ethanol thing at this point. We need to get cellulose fuels and whatever method looks the best, go with it!

DavidJ,

All the problems you are describing involve growing starch food-crops for biofuels, in irrigated and fertilized plots, and using inefficient natural gas-fired distillation.

New approaches use cellulosic crop, wood, and forest waste, wild plants grown without irrigation or fertilization, engineered microbes to improve conversion, and finally membrane filtration instead of distillation for separation, among other things.

The problem is that non-energy-geeks have only one slot in their brain called "biofuels" and the concern is that regardless of improvements in production methods, propaganda will cause such people to conclude "Biofuel bad, Mmkay?"

If that happens, the only fuels available will be petroleum from depleting wells, tar sands, CTL, GTL, and even worse options.

We need to keep our terms defined and our priorities straight.

It sometimes amazes me at the general public lack of knowledge nor concern on the matter. If you watch business channels, they want to know what is in it for them, not what good it can do for the country.

I know business people tend to be very self interested in profit, but you would think that they would be interested in news as well. If this is something that frees us from foreign oil dependence and wars, that would be good for the economy. Even if you only care about yourself, this would be good news.

The use of cellulostic biofuels was tried in Iceland four hundred or more years ago and led to the total destruction of the forests as was also done on Easter Island. England tried the same thing for years and laws had to be passed to ensure the survival of threes that would be big enough for ship masts for the navy. Right now wood fuel for cooking is a major cause of de-forestation in many countries. If the US and other developed nations would make the effort to use the unlimited energy available from fission or fusion or a combination of both, then countries, without capital, could have cheaper energy from oil or even long distance power lines. It is right now possible to build a trans Atlantic power cable. The losses would be high, but half the energy or more would get across. Such a line takes power from Norway to Europe, and there are gas piplines that are going the same distance. It might actually be possible, in several steps, to go from Norway to Holland inside gas pipes if they were empty. They operate at much too high a pressure for survival when full. Plug-in-hybrid electric vehicles are the best way to reduce the use of oil. It would be far more efficient to burn the cellulostic materials at an electric power plant and run the cars from that energy.

It is only the tradition that cars and truck have to have the biggest engine possible that makes electric cars not acceptable to most people. With micro-processors to be had for less than $0.25, small model aircraft engine generator systems can be used to generate power for electric cars that are nearing their battery limits. Larger units could be built for those that drive many miles on the freeways, but the small units will get you anywhere and not so slow as one might think. America had its FORD, Germany its Volks Waggon and France its Citroen now India has its peoples car. Bye the bye, Ford produced methanol from the wood wastes of his car building and also kingsFORD charcoal. The small cars were loved and were a great improvement in travel where no train tracks ran, but the prestige wears off when you only have a two PS auto and your neighbor has a three PS (nano-hummer)one. You seldom can get anywhere twice as fast with 100 PS rated engine than a 50 PS rated one. Some full electric cars are faster than most any other cars, but now is the time for the electric motor with brushes and a resistance speed control and no regeneration to be built into a body that can get onto any road legally and cost very little. Reducing the battery cost and weight is well done with small computerized gasoline generators that will weigh about fifty pounds with fuel. It is stupid, from a loss of time standpoint and a loss credibilitity standpoint, to send out a full electric car without an integrated fuel powered battery charger. It is more logical to send it out without a spare tire..HG..

All the concerns about forest clearing, fertilizer use and competition with food supplies, are vital considerations and we must develop the industry so as to ensure we don't make a bigger mess than we started with. By developing it sustainably we can derive benefit from its growth.

Those issues can be addressed and resolved. Imagine what would have happened if gasoline cars had used wood alcohol and diesel cars had used vegetable oil early on in the 20th century. The rapidly expanding demand for the auto might have caused huge distortions.

We are now very aware of these issues and try to solve any problems before they occur. We have learned a few thing since then. Politicians can pass laws, but it takes people and companies to make them happen. When we start to see companies and people fill the need with cellulose ethanol, you will see guidelines to protect the environment.

Some will try to fight against those protection laws or try to get around them if there is higher profit to be made. We have been there before, it is nothing new.