Watching grass grow becomes critical in hunt for new biofuels

**Watching grass grow is not normally the most exciting activity -- unless the future of New York's energy needs, rural economic development and reducing the human contribution to global climate change depend on it.** From the lab to the field, Cornell researchers are analyzing every aspect of some field grasses in a multidisciplinary, high-octane search for the next generation of biofuels from such **cellulose** feedstocks as grasses and willow trees, which can be converted to **ethanol** and other products. Nationally, corn is the leading source of biofuel, but in the long run, researchers say, New York will be better off developing alternative renewable sources of cellulosic ethanol that will be healthier for the environment, address energy needs and potentially create new business for rural farmers and landowners. In the past few years, Cornell researchers have planted trial plots of field grasses -- cellulosic ethanol feedstocks -- in six sites across the state. Along with dozens of other renewable-energy research projects at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering, the **grass** trials hold an important key to the future of New York's energy strategy for the 21st century. For more information "news.cornell.edu":[ http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Sept07/feedstocks.lc.html]

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