Lignocellulosic Ethanol: Is It Economically and Financially Viable as a Fuel Source?

Recent concerns related to the environmental impact and uncertain future supply of fossil fuels have led to an increased interest in alternative fuels. The objective of the research discussed here was to determine the business attractiveness of utilizing lignocellulosic biomass resources, primarily woody biomass, to produce ethanol in the United States. In addition, we assessed the attractiveness of ethanol made from corn grain in the United States and sugarcane in Brazil in order to provide a contrast between the emerging lignocellulosic and established ethanol industries.