Cellulosic ethanol suffers in down economy
DesMoines Register, 25 March 2009
The economic downturn that has slowed the ethanol industry also is putting the brakes on the next generation of biofuels. Making ethanol from plant cellulose – such as crop residue and wood chips – could help reduce the nation's use of gasoline. Refiners are required by law next year to start using at least 100 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol. But industry officials acknowledge they will not come close to providing enough of th