“Alternate fuel to save the world?”

by Abi Knowles Wolfe (BPRW)

Many African Americans have heard the words biofuel and ethanol thrown around over the past few years, yet every time a new solution to our gas crunch crisis is discovered its tragic flaw inevitable rears its ugly head. Moreover, plant based liquid fuels like ethanol, while a great product created from corn or sugar cane are better for the environment and more arguably renewable resources their use has driven up food costs around the world. It seems there is no winning in this never ending game. Perhaps up until now.

More and more states are investing in alternative energy sources such as wind and solar energy and forward-thinking environmentalists are putting their own time and resources in. The aim for biofuel is to grow and utilize an inedible crop that does not require the rich soil allotted for important foods that meet human consumption needs. Enter the “waste plant” switchgrass, a plant that grows throughout the Midwestern prairie states creating biofuel that is virtually carbon neutral with emissions 94 percent lower than petroleum fuels.

Scientist Ken Vogel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln is the consummate expert and spokesperson on the future of raising switchgrass as an energy crop. Vogel led other scientists in the first long-term, large scale field studies growing switchgrass in North and South Dakota and Nebraska over a five year period of time on 15 to 20 acre patches, keeping track of the amount of fuel and fertilizer needed during the trials.

According to statistics provided by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, switchgrass grown for biofuel produces 540 percent more energy than needed to grow, harvest and process it for use. That is the work and energy that goes into growing, harvesting and utilizing the switchgrass to make biofuel is insignificant compared to the rewards reaped. This new technology will not only save us all a great deal of money in the future, it will prove to be easier on the environment and our air quality too!