In reality, while the apparent energy crisis has made so-called cellulosic biomass technologies more attractive, the industry, like that of other renewable fuels, including wind and solar power, continues to face scientific, political, and economic hurdles--as it has for years. "We're still treated as a marginal industry," says Katherine Hamilton, co-director of the industry advocacy group the American Bioenergy Association, referring to all renewables. "We're not at the table with coal and oil and gas and nukes. We're a way to make [legislators] look good, but not really do anything."
As with researchers and advocates in other renewable fuels areas, those involved in cellulosic biomass have gotten mixed signals from the federal government, whose research and processing-plant startup funds are crucial if cellulose-derived ethanol is to replace gasoline to any significant degree. The Department of Energy (DOE) and companies engaged in cellulosic biomass research hope that scientific advances will soon ...
