This paper explains in detail about the environmental and other health benefits in using cellulosic ethanol. It also highlights other potential advantages of cellulosic biofuels.
Cellulosic Ethanol is believed to have fewer negative effects when compared to theother fossil0 derived fuels, as it emits fewer noxious substances. The study is the first to estimate the economic costs to human health and well-being from gasoline, corn-based ethanol and cellulosic ethanol made from biomass.
The authors found that depending on the materials and technology used in production, cellulosic ethanol environmental and health costs are less than half the costs of gasoline, while corn-based ethanol's costs range from roughly equal to about double that of gasoline.
Total environmental and health costs of
Gasolines - 71 cents per gallon,
Corn-ethanol fuel - 72 cents to about $1.45,
Cellulosic ethanol - 19 cents to 32 cents.
The paper also points out that other potential advantages of cellulosic biofuels, such as reducing the amount of fertilizer and pesticide runoff into rivers and lakes, may also add to the economic benefit of transitioning to next-generation biofuels. Filling our fuel tanks with cellulosic ethanol instead of gasoline or corn-based ethanol may be even better for our health and the environment.
For those of the scientific bent - Full article
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