DOE Selects Pacific Ethanol for Cellulose Project

I wonder at Pacific Ethanol getting this award considering one of it's major players is Bill Jones, a major Republican politician in California and national politics.  He has held high state office and ran unsuccessfuly for governor.  One does wonder don't we?

I agree with Jonathan. It seems that cellulosic, and eventually algaic are the sensible  way to ethanol but its very hard to get grip on whats real and whats PR in this field. For example this week you have a note that soemone has delivered a real economic cellulosic plant, and also this one which says the Doe is still doing demonstrators.  Is someone lying or is  someone wasting money?

Could we please have more technology/biochemistry information on these new ethanol producing processes. I am sure I am not the only avid reader of this site who is aware that 'ethanol can help reduce oil imports bla bla bla' but what we really want to be kept up to date with is the moving technology. cellulosic ethanol is such a technological challenge that its riveting to  observe how the various approaches develop- is it going to be chemical breakdown or enzymatic or a mix etc.  

<p>If DOE is jumping in, something is afoot.&nbsp; You don't hear more about the details&nbsp; because in a new tech field, the secrets of the recipe are proprietary....and being guarded.&nbsp; If pilot plants prove out the process, then go bigger scale. Look at other segments of the renewable industry like solar PV....they are still churning it up&nbsp; with new technology to make the end market cost business case viable. Fermentation is old biology...and the magic is how the cellulose is efficiently convereted into materials which can convert to alcohol.&nbsp; Think like a scientist and process engineer....there are many ways to achieve success. </p><p>Political juice and connections don't hurt to ink a deal.&nbsp; The big shooters in any industry are considered worth their salt because when they call, somebody picks up the phone. They talk it through and seal it....</p>

<p>We could get an alcohol cycle out of corn before feeding it to animals.&nbsp; Animals are better able to digest it that way, and fewer vet bills would ensue.&nbsp; </p><p>Has anybody ever had bread made from grain first fermented to make alcohol?&nbsp; The McMenamin brothers in Portland sometimes serve this in their Black Rabbit Restaurant:&nbsp; B-vitamins galore, and it tastes so good. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>I commend the book Alcohol Can Be a Gas by David Blume.&nbsp; It's exhaustive.&nbsp; He is also an amazing speaker, well versed on biomass potential, including the use of &quot;weeds&quot; available on uninhabited land. His favorite is mesquite, but on the Upper Left Coast we have other stuff.&nbsp; Juniper used to have a bounty on it. &nbsp; </p><p>Corn is the dumbest thing in the world to make ethanol out of.&nbsp; Sorghum and sugar cane grow on the same roots for successive years without the cost of tilling or fertilizing to speak of.&nbsp; They also use water pretty efficiently. &nbsp;</p><p>We do dumb things because of cartels and corruption.&nbsp; There are far better things to ferment than corn.&nbsp; Corn after ferment is a better fodder than corn before. (cont.)</p>