"This study validates the consumers' confidence that our country can in the near future transition to cleaner, cheaper and renewable energy sources," said Doug Durante, executive director of the Clean Fuels Development Coalition, which commissioned the poll.
The study - entitled 25% Renewable Energy for the United States By 2025: Agricultural and Economic Impacts - outlines how America can achieve more renewable energy usage while still allowing for reasonable food, feed and fuel prices. The U.S. House of Representatives last week adopted a resolution supporting the 25x'25 goal.
The University of Tennessee researchers used two computer models to conclude the U.S. is capable of generating 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources, such as 86 billion gallons of ethanol, by the year 2025. Currently, renewable energy accounts for about 6 percent of the country's overall energy use.
Reaching the goal is contingent on commercial introduction of cellulosic ethanol conversion and the development of an energy-dedicated crop economy with 105.8 million planted acres.
"With the latest scientific advances in cellulosic ethanol technology and increased production of corn ethanol, we are well on our way to meeting the ethanol needs of tomorrow," Durante said. "The additional supply of ethanol is projected to decrease gasoline consumption by 59 billion gallons in 2025 and that is exactly the positive direction we need to head towards for the future."
"American consumers and policymakers alike are aware of the significant benefits of biofuel and they want to pursue the development of homegrown renewable energy sources such as ethanol," Durante said.
The Harris Interactive poll, released Oct. 15, showed significant support of renewable energy. Eighty-eight percent of U.S. adults agreed that the U.S. should pursue development and 78 percent think the use of ethanol would lessen our countries' dependence on foreign oil.
