Miscanthus better than Switchgrass for Biofuel Production

A recent study demonstrates the capability of Miscanthus in producing ethanol. The benefits of Switchgrass, in that in can grow in most any soil type, is perennial and easy to grow. Advantages of MIscanthus are it grows quicker, in less acreage, and produces more ethanol.

Land Prices and Alternative Energy

Will prices for tracs of land increase under the growing pressure for Alternative Energy production? 
Large land purchases for Solar thermal have already happenned in the Mojave desert and outside of Las Vegas where new gigwatt facilities are being built with this well proven approach. 
T Boone Pickens has been leasing land tracs in West Texas for wind [...]

Switchgrass Test a Success

Alliant Energy working with the Chariton Valley Biomass Project and the DOE ended their recent test burn to determine the viability of growing, and burning switchgrass as an energy substitute.  All indications to date are that it was a success.  According to the press release, Nearly 16,000 tons of switchgrass produce more than 19,600 megawatt-hours [...]

Corn ? Sugar ? Why not Switchgrass?

Problem: Why is this difficult ? Farm lobbies, congress and others are getting in the way of the logical conclusion that energy from a food source is not as preferable as energy from a material grown for energy production.
Ethanol based on corn is not only inefficient in terms of net energy produced but also drives [...]