UNC professor steering away from corn for biodiesel

Denver Post- August 29, 2008
Check out this paper I wrote on biodiesel a couple of years ago. I found that algae is about 10 times more productive than corn for fuel. The emphasis on corn is completely absurd because of the economic impact and how directly corn influences the price of food. The entire country of Brazil runs E80 or higher gasoline, but not from corn which the US in now cultivating specifically for fuel. Brazil acquires most of its ethanol from the stalks of sugar cane after it has been processed. The US must look elsewhere for ethanol because cont is not the answer. Corn ethanol has had a huge economic impact in Northern Colorado where Weld County was at one time the most productive county in the US, and now farmers are feeding a new market. I think there are much better sources for two main reasons: 1-energy yield 2-loss of land for food cultivation. Don't get me wrong, I think corn ethanol should still be supported, but only until another better system addresses the problem of fuel sources.

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_10327944