Corn Cob Fuel 1

 Cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls and is the most common organic compound on earth. That means it exists in plant materials like corn stalks, corn cobs, switch grass, wood chips and even garbage. If you’re wondering if this is an ag report or a biology class, listen up. Cellulosic ethanol is chemically identical to the ethanol that’s made from corn, meaning that all that waste that scientists call bio-mass can be used to fill our gas tanks.

 Jim Sturdevant, Director of Project Liberty, in Scotland, South Dakota points out the expense of finding, drilling, pumping, transporting, and refining oil, along with the staggering costs both in terms of dollars and human life in protecting this source of energy makes ethanol a no-brain decision. And it’s a great opportunity for farmers.

 (Sturdevant) “Farmers will continue to grow corn and we’re not asking them to change their cropping practices, we’re not asking them to grow anything new, we’re just saying look, our nation’s already producing corn off of about 85 million acres, why not take a waste product from that process and add anew revenue stream for that farmer’s business. At the same time, take that waste product and create a fuel that can help reduce our nation’s dependency on foreign oil. It’s just a win-win-win.”