Alternative fuels push may help fight high prices at pump

June 6, 2006

KNOX COUNTY (WATE) -- A major push to find alternate fuels is underway in Tennessee.

The Alternative Fuels Working Group, established by Gov. Bredesen in February, heard from leading researchers of renewable energy sources Tuesday.

One of the Oak Ridge National Lab's directors is working on what's called cellulosic ethanol.

Dr. Reinhold Mann says, "It's simple straw from wheat. It's forest products. I mentioned poplar research and that's certainly one of the trees because it is a fast growing tree."

But the process of turning those materials into ethanol is very expensive right now.

While corn ethanol is cheaper, the experts are concerned Tennessee doesn't have the capacity to grow enough corn to make a difference in the energy supply.

Mann says, "The advantage of cellulosic ethanol is the larger feed stock. There's more cellulose out there than could ever grow starch with corn."

Researchers are cautiously optimistic. "It will not be the magic bullet. It will not solve all of our problems, but it will be a significant contributor," Mann says.

"In fact, the stated goal towards which we are working is to have 30 percent of our transportation fuel coming from renewables," he continues.

That's 30 percent by the year 2030.

If achieved, it could have a huge impact not just on prices at the pump, but the air quality and overall health.