Grasses could reduce the US reliance on foreign oil

(01/01/2010)

Mississippi State University (MSU) has been studying Freedom Giant Miscanthus grass for 12 years. Results of that dedicated research indicate that Freedom Giant Miscanthus is a viable alternative to other biofuel sources, like corn, switchgrass and timber.

The first guaranteed, university-backed strain of giant miscanthus grass is now available and is being commercialized by SunBelt Biofuels LLC, which has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with MSU.

The implications of this announcement are significant. Finding innovative, yet immediately workable, solutions in biofuels lessens U.S. dependence on foreign oil and gas. Freedom Giant Miscanthus is a product that begins immediately to move the U.S. away from foreign energy dependence. Freedom Giant Miscanthus takes only one year to replace, as opposed to timber, which takes 20 years to replace due to the growing cycle.

Freedom Giant Miscanthus also promises to stimulate rural economies, as it takes less land, costs less to grow, and is very profitable for farmers. For example, in the state of Georgia farms that grow Freedom Giant Miscanthus will see income rise more than $2 billion above crops that are grown currently. Freedom Giant Miscanthus produces over 3,000 gallons of ethanol per acre.

According to Phillip Jennings, CEO of SunBelt Biofuels, the state of Georgia needs to plant 2.4 million acres of Freedom Giant Miscanthus to become energy independent.

"In Georgia, we can take 10 percent of our commercial timber land or 24 percent of our crop land, and we would be where we need to be to sustain just this one state," said Mr. Jennings. "With 10 million acres of Freedom Giant Miscanthus, Georgia would become the number 7 OPEC fuel producer in the world."

Facts about Freedom Giant Miscanthus:

1. Grasses are king in the race to solve the U.S.' reliance on foreign oil. Freedom Giant Miscanthus yields three times more than switchgrass, five times than corn, and six times what timber does, meaning that a farmer can get a 25 ton yield from Freedom Giant Miscanthus per acre.

2. Freedom Giant Miscanthus needs no government subsidy to be profitable.

3. It is branded as "Freedom Giant Miscanthus" to denote its ability to free the U.S. from dependency on foreign oil.

4. Freedom Giant Miscanthus is a non-food biomass.

Related categories:  Biofuels and biomass