Industry CEOs Say Advanced Biofuels Will Take On Oil Within the Next Three Years

[Nathanael]

At a recent conference, CEOs of advanced biofuel companies explained they are between a year and three years away from large-scale commercial development.

Speakers at this year's Advanced Bioenergy Markets had a markedly different tone than just a couple years ago. Two years ago the conversation was focused around subsidies and developing bioenergy technology to the point of commercialization within five years. Now, the leading-edge biofuel companies are stating they can produce commercial fuel within 12-36 months at a cost of $0.75 to $2.50 per gallon. This price would allow biofuels to compete with oil.

Link: http://www.energyboom.com/biofuels/industry-ceos-say-advanced-biofuels-will-take-oil-within-next-three-years

[zeaper]

1. Talk is cheap, I will believe it when I see it

From the article:

“They cautioned that without strong policy, and, at the very least, the Renewable Fuel Standard, companies will have a hard raising the equity and debt required to take operations to commercial scale as a result of low investor confidence.”

In other words: “Give us money”

[Kennah]

2. Ethanol incentives are expiring ...

... and whether they are good or bad, I'm not expecting the TIRP (Tea Infused Republican Party) to renew them.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/11/16/news/economy/ethanol_exports_subsidy/

[DCKit]

3. You may not, but that's a hard-core (R) voting block.

Every step in the production of ethanol, from the chemical companies who produce fertilizer and herbicides, to the farmers (who receive outrageous subsidies), to the brewers and refiners.

The corn lobby is a force to be reckoned with.

[kristopher]

4. If they can do what they assert they soon won't need subsidies.

The OP is from a report about the original article. The original is linked below and includes who is being quoted, from which you (if you wish) can track down the specific technologies that they are representing.

http://biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2010/11/16/biofuels-industry-ceos-predict-parity-with-oil-in-12-36-months-for-leading-edge-companies/