By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a significant investment of $36 million to support technologies aimed at reducing the environmental impact of nitrogen fertilizers used in corn and sorghum farming for ethanol production.
This initiative is crucial as agriculture contributes approximately 11% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, with nitrogen fertilizers responsible for about half of these emissions.
The funding will focus on projects that not only reduce the amount of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer required but also maintain agricultural yields, thus supporting the economic stability of American farmers.
This effort is part of a broader push to make ethanol a more sustainable biofuel, especially important as the ethanol industry seeks new growth opportunities amidst the rise of electric vehicles which threaten to decrease the gasoline market.
Challenges remain, such as recent Treasury Department guidelines that restrict ethanol's eligibility for certain federal tax credits.
The DOE's investment aims to overcome these hurdles by enhancing the sustainability of ethanol production, which could reposition it more favorably within federal and state subsidy frameworks.
Evelyn N. Wang, director of the DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program, emphasized the dual benefits of this initiative, highlighting its potential to reduce operational costs and support the country's energy and economic goals. This strategic move by the DOE illustrates the government's commitment to integrating environmental sustainability with agricultural practices, ensuring the long-term viability of the U.S. ethanol industry.
Photo Credit: shutterstock-dickgage
Categories: National