US Forest Service proposes 15 percent target for cellulosic ethanol

The head of the US Forest Service proposed replacing 15 percent of the nation’s gasoline with wood-based cellulosic ethanol, and doubling carbon dioxide absorption in the nation’s forests.

Speaking to the Society of Environmental Journalists, Forest Service head Abigail Kimbell said that small-diameter trees and underbrush can be used to heat homes, generate electricity and power cars. The Forest Service stated that mandated forest thinning would provide the wood for ethanol production, noting that US forests are heavily overstocked with dangerous underbrush owing to previous forest management practices. Typically, extra underbrush is burned or ground up.

The Forest Service estimated that US forests offset about 10 percent of US carbon emissions, but the Forest Service head proposed to increase absorption to 20% by 2020.

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