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[] ** Where Does the Author work, what else has s/he written about, an what are his/her credentials? **  The Congressional Research Service is an organization that analysis different political and legal issues for members of Congress and the Senate. They provide information that is not controlled by any party affiliation. They are organized under the library of congress. The main goal of the organization is to provide politicians with constant access to accurate information. ** What is the main topic of the text? **  This report goes in-depth into many of the details of cellulosic ethanol production. It looks at the feedstock, the impact of farmers, the different sources, methods of ethanol production, and economics of the different options. Also it looks at the government policies in place to support ethanol production. There are a great deal of issues that are not generally thought of when discussing an ethanol economy. One area looked at is how the farmers would need to change their practices. There is also the updating and installation of new infrastructure to support the distribution and production of ethanol. ** Describe at least three ways that the main topic is fleshed out. **  Many of the byproducts of the industry and farming in this country would be useful in an cellulosic ethanol economy. There would need to be new systems established to collect these materials. Household waste could be one source, the cardboard and paper, along with food remains. Also the refuse left over after logging an area. Farmers could also harvest vast quantities of cellulose material, in the form of the plant remains after the food is harvested form field. This would account for about 40% of the total potential for cellulosic ethanol. The report looks at the energy density problem associated with ethanol as a energy storage. Current ethanol contains only 67% of the energy contained in the same volume of gasoline. This energy density problem also becomes a concern when dealing with the feed stock, in some areas the growth of grasses will be easier than actual food crops. However this will result in the need for more truckloads of feedstock because the grass has a relatively low energy density, taking more loads to transport the same amount of energy in the feedstock. There are many unresolved difficulties involved in the actual production of a fuel from cellulosic sources. Two meathods area looked at by the report. The fist being biochemical conversion, this involves breaking down the complicated sugars in the plant with acids and heat, then putting it into traditional ethanol production. This process has been used for years with little success. Also there are complication because of the acids used and the low energy density of the ethanol. The other process looked at is thermochemical conversion. This is passing the plant matter over enzymes while it is hot to break down the sugars, and then using other chemical process to create a fuel similar to traditional fossil fuels. This process is relatively new and has only been used in pilot plants. ** What three quotes capture the critical importance of the text? ** Ethanol produced under current biochemical processes yields only 67% of the energy of an equivalent volume of gasoline biofuels mandated by the RFS for 2022 will be derived from dedicated energy crops (49.4%), agricultural residues (35.6%), urban waste (14.4%), and forest residue (0.6%). Several studies based on agronomically viable U.S. biomass production suggest that the biofuels potential is significantly larger than 16 billion gallons. but estimates based on  laboratory and pilot plant results range from $2.50 per gallon to slightly over $3.00 per gallon. ** Explain how the argument and evidence in the text support you research focus. **  Any bio-fuel production on a large scale will be difficult. There are many factors that are incorporated into its feasibility. No matter which direction is chosen there will need to be vast investment into infrastructure and development of the technology. This is something that will not come easy. There are concerns about meeting the goal for 2022, 36 billion gallons of ethanol per year. This would only account for about 25% of the nation’s fuel needs. If the nation is to be energy independent there will need to be further improvement to the bio-fuel industry. With current technology there is no way to meet the needs of the nation.
 * Full Citation: ** Congressional Research Service “Cellulosic Ethanol Feedstocks, Conversion, Technology, Economics and Policy Options” Randy Schnepf, October 2010