DailyTech - Cellulosic Ethanol Promises $1 per Gallon Fuel From Waste

DailyTech - Cellulosic Ethanol Promises $1 per Gallon Fuel From Waste

GM's (or rather, Coskata's) approach starts ... by putting the various organic waste materials, such as tires, crops, crop waste and yard waste into a grinder. The remaining powder is then exposed to plasma, which causes the organic powder to ferment, releasing carbon-chain gas. It rises into the air where natural anaerobic bacteria eats the gas molecules and excretes ethanol and water vapor. This mixture then rises, and travels through a series of tubes with a separating membrane. The yield is pure water and pure ethanol.

...an analysis of the process conducted at Argone National Laboratory reveals that for every unit of energy Coskata uses, it creates approximately 7.7 times as much energy, a ratio well above current tradition ethanol production.

Lutz ... also explained that the move will take GM and other auto makers "out of the firing line" of accusations that they contribute to everything from "out-of-control global warming, to funding terrorism."

Producing fuel from renewable resources may reduce net carbon emissions, and it's interesting to see technological breakthroughs emerge. But I wonder how well a change in fuel sources would compare with a change in lifestyle -- for example, one which encouraged the use of mass transit -- in reducing emissions. Have any relevant studies been published?