Låter lovande angående priset:
Citat:
Recent advances have resulted in more efficient enzymes that substantially cut costs, Aden says. Still, he says, cellulosic wholesale costs are $2 to $3 a gallon, vs. $1.56 for corn ethanol. But since feedstock costs about half as much, Aden says prices should drop to $1.33 by 2012.
Samt hur mycket man tror sig kunna producera:
Citat:
By then, cellulosic ethanol realistically could replace a quarter of the nation's gasoline — which would dramatically reduce both oil prices and global warming emissions, says David Friedman of the Union of Concerned Scientists. DOE says there's enough feedstock to supplant 30% of gasoline consumption. Of course, electric cars and hybrids are also expected to play a big role.
Givetvis finns det skeptiker också:
Citat:
There are skeptics. David Pimentel, an agricultural science professor at Cornell University, calls the DOE estimate "imaginary." Removing too much plant waste from fields will erode soil, he says, while growing energy crops will jeopardize the food supply.
Sist men inte minst, den ekonomiska krisen sätter förstås sina spår även här:
Citat:
But construction of the $30 million Lancaster plant, scheduled to start last month, has been pushed back because the credit crisis has dried up funding.