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Ethanol Industry Seeks End To US Gasoline Dependency

Posted on: Monday, 10 August 2009, 11:35 CDT

As part of a push to slow global warming and provide jobs in the United States, the ethanol industry called for requirements that all vehicles sold in the U.S. accept the renewable gasoline substitute, Reuters reported.

The ethanol industry trade group Growth Energy said in a "biofuels roadmap" ahead of a renewable energy meeting in Las Vegas on Monday that a low-carbon fuel standard, which would spur use of alternative fuels, more ethanol pumping stations and construction of biofuel pipelines would also help wean the country from gasoline.

An alcohol-based motor fuel that can be made from all crops including corn and sugar cane, ethanol is the next generation in development, according to many experts.

Cellulosic ethanol is made from non-food sources like switchgrass.

Growth Energy Co-Chair Wesley Clark said in a statement that the U.S. must speed up the commercialization of cellulosic ethanol, which is almost 90 percent better for the environment than gasoline.

“If we act on this road map today, we can more than double the number of biofuels jobs to 1.3 million," he wrote.

The majority of U.S.-produced ethanol is corn-based, but the government has a 2010 goal to blend 100 million new gallons of cellulosic ethanol into the gasoline pool.

However, these higher blends of ethanol would require cars to need special hoses and other minor equipment changes.

These so-called Flex-fuel vehicles are common in Brazil, which is heavily dependent on sugar cane-based ethanol.

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On the Net:

• Growth Energy

Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

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