Colorado Corn Cultivating Opportunities

Two recent reports show how renewable and sustainable energy and fuels are spreading around the world, benefiting communities as well as ecosystems. And this global expansion includes corn ethanol, benefiting farmers in the United States and around the world, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) noted.

“We’re really excited to see these numbers because we believe not only that renewable energy is a viable and sustainable alternative to dependence on petrofuels, but that it provides support and stability for family farmers around the globe,” said Ron Litterer, NCGA president and a grower from Greene, Iowa. “Farming has provided renewable fuel sources for centuries – while still feeding and clothing the world.”

The Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, also known as REN21, reports that, in 2007, more than $100 billion was invested in new renewable energy capacity, manufacturing plants, and research and development. Production of biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) exceeded an estimated 14 billion gallons in 2007, up 43 percent from 2005, and ethanol production in 2007 represented about 4 percent of the 343.4 billion gallons of gasoline consumed globally. The United States ranked No. 1 in fuel ethanol production, followed by Brazil, China, Germany and Spain.

In a separate report on clean energy trends, and the U.S.-based research firm Clean Edge states that the global biofuels market reached $25.4 billion in 2007 and is projected to grow to $81.1 billion by 2017.