Minnesota researchers find cellulosic ethanol reduces “health and environmental” costs of fuel by more than 50 percent, compared to gasoline; first-gen ethanol at break-even to worse

Researchers from the University of Minnesota will publish a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences confirming that cellulosic ethanol emits lower amounts of fine particulate matter, and reduces “health and environmental” costs to $0.19-$0.32 per gallon depending on feedstock and conversion technology, compared to $0.71 per gallon for conventional gasoline.

First generation corn ethanol had a combined cost of $0.71-$1.45 per gallon depending on the technology employed.

The study was one of the first to calculate not only the environmental cost impact of fuel, but the health costs passed on to the public. The study looked at full lifecycle emissions.

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