Do not understand the lack of interest in IESV as an alternant energy source. If they can prove the conversion of animal waste to a usable fuel, why not with a little modification doing the same with human waste??

Branson's primary interest is in CELLULOSIC ethanol, NOT corn ethanol as VSE makes and PEIX hopes to make.

Branson grants that corn ethanol is a necessary transitional step, but he has already made his corn ethanol investments alongside Vinod Khosla in a private company called Cilion.

The opportunity here is for companies that specialize in cellulosic ethanol. The public ones include SunOpta (STKL), BlueFire Ethanol(BFRE.pk), Colusa Biomass (CLME.pk), and Xethanol (XNL). BlueFire and Colusa will probably have an edge if/when California's Proposition 87 takes effect in that state as they are located there and Colusa uses native feedstock (rice straw). SunOpta is not an ethanol producer but a supplier of technology and engineering for cellulosic biofuel plants, currently building the world's first cellulosic ethanol plants for Abengoa Bioenergy and Celunol. Xethanol has come under attack lately and it is not yet clear if they are a legitimate player in this space.

In any event it is important to zero in on cellulosic rather than corn ethanol at this point, since cellulosic ethanol is the kind beloved of Branson, Gore, Environmentalists, etc.

E85? Yes, I mentioned that a few weeks ago. We're gearing up to make it out of wood chips here in Park Falls. Drop a note of thanks to our Governor Jim Doyle.

Imagine, a man like Mr. Branson, who puts his money where his mouth is, becoming a billionaire. What a novel concept. Take a lesson here.

I'd bet when he was a kid someone told him "talk is cheap"... and it stuck.

Someone please give him a pat on the back for me.

Tell him I said:

XSUNX

:)

This is a great general overview if anyone wants to learn more about CELLULOSIC ethanol and how it differs from corn ethanol:

http://www.harvestcleanenergy.org/enews/enews_0505/enews_0505_Cellulosic_Ethanol.htm