TRASH TALK: The ethanol industry is building refineries in several states that will use corn plant residue, wood scraps and even garbage to produce the fuel additive.
DROUGHT RELIEF: The breakthrough comes at a key time for the industry, after the drought heightened criticism about the vast amount of corn used to brew ethanol instead of using it for animal feed. Diverting the crop toward ethanol made corn prices to soar.
TOUGH BREAK: To produce ethanol from woody parts of plants, scientists had to find a way to break lignin — tough fibers in stems, trees and corn stalks.
