Fueling Progress

for home-grown energy solutions Concerned about high gas prices, global warming, dying farms and a lack of economic development in Upstate New York? Then prepare to be encouraged.

Simply put, alternative fuels such as ethanol have a bright future, and New York state is taking steps to produce them, and thereby produce more jobs, cleaner air and economic revitalization. Based in Fulton's vacant Miller brewery, Northeast Biofuels announced recently it will be the first in the nation to produce ethanol and biodiesel fuels under one roof.

Northeast Biofuels and a unique combination of business, labor, educational institutions and government are pooling resources for a $157 million project to produce ethanol as an alternative fuel that's cheaper and cleaner for the environment. By August, NextGen Fuel Inc. plans to begin producing 5 million gallons of biodiesel a year to be mixed with petroleum-based fuel. Clarkson University developed technology to help the plant make motor fuel from raw materials such as soybean oil and french fry grease.

It's good news because the world's oil supply won't last forever. Alternative fuels like ethanol - produced from corn and crops - have found even oil companies investing in them. New York state has the climate to grow the crops and create plenty of farm byproducts to fuel the production, as well as a ready market in the Northeast for its new fuel products.

The public and various officials attended Monday's symposium, "Growing Renewable Energy Capacity in New York" at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel to push the project. The symposium was co-sponsored by SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, the state Energy Resource Development Authority, National Grid, Clarkson University and Syracuse University, whose Center for Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems will be key in helping develop the biofuels technology.

But know that it will take even greater efforts to replace petroleum with ethanol anytime soon. The resistance from oil companies who stand to lose profits will take major pressure from the public to overcome, despite ethanol's obvious benefits of greater fuel efficiency, a cleaner environment and decreased dependency on foreign countries for oil.

Still, it's a solution whose time has come. The public's support can help it get here sooner.