What’s the Difference Between Cellulosic Ethanol and Corn Ethanol?
While chemically identical to ethanol produced from corn or soybeans, cellulosic ethanol exhibits a net energy content three times higher than corn ethanol and emits a low net level of greenhouse gases, according to BioCycle magazine. TechnologyReview.com states that an acre of grasses or other crops grown specifically to make cellulosic ethanol could produce more than two times the number of gallons of ethanol as an acre of corn, in part because the whole plant can be used instead of just the grain. Bill Moretz, owner of Moretz Mountain Orchard, said, for instance, an acre of switchgrass used to make cellulosic ethanol will produce 1,000 gallons of biofuel, whereas an acre of corn used to make corn ethanol will only produce 500 gallons of biofuel. But Moretz is worried that farmers will start to switch their grass fields used for raising cattle to switchgrass fields, thereby raising the price of beef and other agricultural commodities. “This is more of a future thing,” said Moretz. “B
