Alabama Governor and Scientists to Look at Sugarcane Use

The Alabama group, expected to include representatives from Auburn University and Huntsville's HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, is scheduled to tour sugar cane fields and talk to people involved in the farming and development of the crop as an energy source.

"Brazil is a worldwide leader in biofuels," said the governor's spokesman, Jeff Emerson. "Ethanol consumption in Brazil has surpassed that of gasoline, and they have a lot of expertise in using sugar cane to make ethanol for cars."

State crops, including corn and soybeans, are resources for alternative fuel production, although that's not their primary use. Auburn researchers are studying wood chips and other biomass as energy sources.

Statewide, leaders are investigating a number of ways to extend Alabama's reach in renewable fuels. Renewable energy sources, such as plants, can be replenished in a short time, while non-renewable sources - fossil fuels including oil and coal - are being used up.

View the Birmingham News story by clicking here.

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