DOE Grant is hot topic online

This week's announcement of a $6.85 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) generated quite a lot of discussion online. Almost all of it was very positive.

Writing about the grant for Green Car Adviser, John O'Dell said ...ethanol from the corncobs that usually are plowed back into the ground may provide a way for corn-for-fuel farmers, and corn-ethanol producers, to stand tall again.

The headline for Richard Kessler's article on Recharge News read: POET nabs another $6.9m for corn-cob ethanol plant.

WNAX-AM Ag News posted portions of a radio interview with POET's Biomass Program Director, Mike Roth.

The news was also picked up by Green Car Congress, Biofuels Digest, Renewable Energy World, DTN and many more.

Not everyone rejoiced at the news, however. As only they can, The Truth About Cars (but not ethanol) got many facts wrong in voicing their opposition. As I pointed out in the comments to that post (and readers of this blog will know) we have an operating pilot plant producing ethanol from corn cobs today, there are numerous studies saying that removing cobs will not adversely impact soil quality and the ethanol industry is doing pretty good these days. Oh well, I guess we'll just have to be satisfied with a 99 percent positive reaction.

To read more coverage of the announcement, be sure to check out the news page on this site. Then, feel free to leave your reaction in the comments below.