Nothing Wrecks Renewable Energy Worse than a Recession

C&E News is reporting that cellulosic ethanol development is floundering. This is because of the triple whammy of low corn prices (due to this year's bumper crop), low oil prices, and muddled government policies. I had not been aware that corn production was up this year, but there was rain in the grain-belt this summer, and acreage was up. Muddled government policy is par for the course, and screwy subsidies should be expected to continue. The government has not been releasing loans for prototype cellulosic ethanol plants despite being funded.

Cellulosic ethanol is ethanol made from sugars created by decomposing cellulose enzymatically. So far the central problem has been making the enzymes cheaply enough, but there are other problems too.