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This article didn’t mention the effect of large-scale conversion of cellulosic biomass to fuel on disposal sites. Here in southern California, we are running out of places to dump urban waste. Taking waste to a fuel-generating facility would reduce the environmental effects and might even cost less than burying it.

Bob Koster
North Tustin, Calif.

Your story highlighted the downside of corn-based ethanol production. Hemp would be a greener alternative to corn, as hemp uses much less fertilizer and is tenacious on slopes. Hemp as fuel biomass has the further advantage of yielding a seed cake with high protein content, seed oil that has the highest amount of omega-3 fatty acids content of any plant, and long fibers for paper production.

Gene Tinelli
Syracuse, N.Y.