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Ag Wastes May Fuel California Cars

© Rena Larranaga

taken from an Associated Press story

California farmers may soon be doing more than feeding the state's people. They may also be fueling their cars.

A proposed "bio-refinery," constructed by Boston-based BC International Corp., will convert thousands of tons of rice straw, orchard prunings and other agricultural waste into ethanol. State air-pollution fighters hope the ethanol can be used in California gasoline, instead of the additive MTBE.

BC International plans to begin construction next year north of Sacramento.

Rice farmers are eager to have a market for their rice straw. Currently, the farmers are unable to burn stubble in their fields because of air pollution regulations. Instead, growers disc the stubble back into the ground at a cost of about $30 per acre.

In the Sacramento Valley, about 500,000 acres of rice are planted, producing approximately 1.5 million tons of rice straw. Farmers have tested other markets for the straw -- including house insulation and woven furniture -- with no success.

Ethanol may be the answer.

Some states in the Midwest currently convert corn starch into about 1.6 billion gallons of ethanol annually. Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas are among the states with ethanol factories.

BCI's California factory will convert about 75,000 tons of rice straw, 125,000 tons of orchard trimmings and 40,000 tons of other agricultural waste into ethanol each year. The plant will use new technology to separate cellulose from items like wood, straw, leaves and fruit pits, and use that sugar to make ethanol.

But this still won't be enough to replace all 540 million gallons of MTBE burned annually in the state. Midwestern ethanol producers may also get into the game.

Other uses for ethanol include mouthwash, aftershave, perfume and solvents.

Some Fast Fuel Facts about Ethanol
from the U.S. Department of Energy

• Fuel availability. Ethanol stations are currently in operation in the upper Midwest, California and Washington, D.C.

• Vehicle availability. Chrysler offers ethanol-compatible Dodge Intrepid sedans. Ford offers Taurus sedans.

• Operational performance. Has slightly shorter driving range than comparable gasoline vehicles. Power, acceleration, payload and cruise speed are comparable.

• Maintenance and reliability. Require special lubricants (slight cost premium over standard motor oil). Maintenance assistance available from local dealers; practices are similar.

In California, ethanol supporters say the cost to motorists would be about the same as gasoline-powered cars. California's gasoline prices already are among the highest in the nation, with unleaded regular averaging $1.50 a gallon recently.

The copyright of the article Ag Wastes May Fuel California Cars in American Agriculture is owned by Rena Larranaga. Permission to republish Ag Wastes May Fuel California Cars in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.