On the surface, ethanol seems like a great idea.  Instead of importing millions of barrels of oil, why not just use the renewable resources readily available domestically?  The problem is, however, this wonderul renewable resource, at least in the United States, happens to also feed millions of people and animals.

One possible answer to this dilemma is to produce ethanol from an alternative resource--one that we don't already use for consumption.  Ethanol derived from cellulosic materiels such as grass, wood, straw and other plant materials seems to be one such solution.