February 15, 2008

Pine beetle kill problem could yield fuel source

FORT COLLINS – Untold numbers of dead pine trees now cover the mountainsides of western Colorado, and the bugs that killed them are finding their way onto the Front Range.

While that’s a scary and depressing prospect, given the heightened wildfire danger associated with the trees killed by the voracious pine beetle, some are viewing the situation as an opportunity to turn a huge problem into a possible new fuel source.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy said it would provide $30 million to help build Colorado’s first cellulosic ethanol plant that would be able to convert the beetle-killed pines into vehicle…

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