Iowa State University conference examines developing ...( AMES Iowa Venture capitalist Vinod ...)

AMES, Iowa Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla told last years Biobased Industry Outlook Conference at Iowa State University why he believes fuel blends containing 85 percent ethanol can replace the countrys gasoline supply.

Khosla who last year told The New York Times hes invested tens of millions of dollars in private companies developing ethanol production technologies ticked off several reasons: Political and special interest groups back ethanol, theres land to grow new energy crops, ethanols energy balance and emissions are good.

And, he told the conference, The single most important issue for me is how many miles can you drive per acre of land.

Todays technologies produce about 500 gallons of ethanol per acre. In 25 years he said production could jump to about 3,000 gallons per acre.

Whats he saying about ethanol and the bioeconomy these days"

Khosla co-founder of Sun Microsystems and founder of Khosla Ventures in Menlo Park, Calif. will share his views during a keynote address at the 2007 Biobased Industry Outlook Conference, Growing the Bioeconomy, Nov. 5 and 6 at the Iowa State Center on the Iowa State campus. Hes scheduled to speak at 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 6 in Hilton Coliseum.

The conference is targeted for elected officials, economic development professionals, manufacturers of biobased products, biofuel producers, farmers, bioprocessing engineers and venture capitalists. Presentations cover plant sciences; feedstock production; conversion of biomass into fuels and products; bioproducts use and energy efficiency; conservation and sustainability; and economics and policy. Early registration for the two-day conference (including a welcome breakfast, two lunches, receptions and materials) is $219 before Oct 1. and $299 after. There is a student rate of $139.

Conference information is at www.bioeconomyconference.org and registration
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