Alternative Fuel Industry Receives Boost from Government by Lauren Woods

With the recent global warming problem facing the world, different agencies and sectors of the communities are doing their share to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Different industries are making great leaps in the production of alternative fuel which is projected to replace fossil fuels in the near future. After all, the latter is not only a non-renewable source of energy but it is also a source of greenhouse gases.

Car manufacturers are also doing their share by investing in the development of new technologies which will allow the use of alternative fuels on vehicles. These car makers have tied up with other companies to further expand the research and development in terms of perfecting alternative fuel use for vehicles. Even private individuals are helping this cause by donating substantial amount of funds and other means of help to facilities that conduct study on the use of alternative fuels in the future. Governments all over the world are also joining the battle to save the Earth. Recently the Bush administration awards a cost-share grant to Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) through the Department of Energy.

The grants will be used by BIO in the construction of new commercial biorefineries. Experts in the field view the construction of the said facilities as a major step in the commercialization of alternative fuels. The refineries will produce ethanol, chemicals, and other bio-based products from cellulose.

Jim Greenwood, the President of BIO, thanked Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and the Bush administration in his statement: "Skeptics have been saying that commercialization of cellulosic technologies for ethanol production is years away, but the technology for production of ethanol from cellulosic crop residues is ready now. The grants announced today by Secretary Bodman will help bring more ethanol motor fuel to the pump within the next few years, helping to reduce both our reliance on imported oil and our emission of greenhouse gases. The Bush administration's actions today underscore how public policies such as grants and incentives can accelerate the development of new biofuels technologies and the production of large volumes of alternative fuels. We are grateful for the President's decisive leadership in this important issue. This is a win for the consumer, for our rural economies and for our environment."

The grants will help the widespread use of alternative fuels on flex-fuel vehicles. This will make vehicles in the nation's roads cleaner and safer to the environment and to people. The consumers will benefit greatly from this endeavor since the use of alternative fuel will also mean lower cost of fuel, and their car's fuel efficiency will be much greater, especially if fitted with aftermarket parts like a Toyota cold air intake system.

The award is the implementation of Section 932 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The policy is aimed to the funding of facilities that produce alternative fuels from biomass. The grants will be used not only to create new facilities but also to expand existing facilities which will enable them to produce larger amounts of ethanol for commercial use.

"The construction of large-scale biorefineries to convert cellulosic biomass to ethanol and other useful consumer products is a critical step toward bringing recent industrial biotech breakthroughs top the market," says Brent Erickson, the Executive Vice President of BIO's Industrial and Environmental Section. "The demonstration biorefineries built with today's announced grants will help rapidly advance the learning curve, reduce the costs, and increase the efficiency of producing ethanol from cellulose," Erickson further added.

With the grants, the administration shows that they are indeed serious in the development of alternative fuels. This also shows that they are committed to bring this technology to the public as soon as possible.
About the Author

Given her background on cars as an auto insurance director, Lauren Woods finds the world of cars to be constantly changing.