Cellulosic ethanol is best solution

To the editor:

Recent op-ed articles in the Southeast Missourian by Gary Marshall and Christopher Bond attacked an earlier article by Michael Devaney, who had suggested that ethanol is not a viable substitute for gasoline. Arguments advanced by all three are to some extent faulty, misleading, irrelevant or incomplete. In fairness to Devaney, I must note that his conclusion is more nearly correct. Corn-based ethanol is not a viable substitute for petroleum-based gasoline, but not for the reasons submitted by Devaney.

I favor ethanol even with federal and state subsidies, mandates and import tariffs imposed to stimulate and protect domestic production. Grain-based ethanol is available, and we need it, as an environmentally friendly gasoline additive to replace the undesirable MTBE. A 10 percent ethanol blend is a good thing.

What percentage of U.S. corn production can feasibly be converted to ethanol? I don't know, but I'm sure it's not enough to have a significant impact on our oil-import problem.

Grain-based ethanol is not the answer, but ethanol can be derived from other feed stocks. Cellulosic ethanol can be made from wood chips, timber thinnings, corn stover, municipal waste and switchgrass. A few cellulosic plants are in operation, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory asserts that the process will be fully commercialized within three years. Cellulosic ethanol holds the promise of cheaper and more efficient energy production that will not disrupt and distort food and feed production.

JACK RYAN, Jefferson City, Mo.