There is a great deal of positive talk about ag biotech’s role in helping to provide a sustainable energy alternative to petroleum. Speakers at the “Leadership Summit: Biotechnology and Sustainability Meeting Tomorrow’s Food and Fuel Needs” spoke of the significant beneficial contribution biofuels is and will make in reducing the impact of motor vehicles on the environment.
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Also yesterday Brent Erickson, executive vice president of the BIO Industrial and Environmental Section, stated:  

“Advanced biofuel companies are ready to deploy their technology and begin meeting the requirements of the National Renewable Fuel Standard. Now that the rules of the program are finally moving forward and the Obama administration has demonstrated a firm commitment to the industry, companies are prepared to build the next generation of biorefineries.”
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“The recent analysis by the Environmental Protection Agency shows that biofuels produced with biotech tools will dramatically reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from transportation - more than 100 percent compared to gasoline, in some cases. In addition to enabling production of cellulosic biofuels, biotechnology can continue to help biofuel producers reduce carbon emissions by increasing yields of fuel per ton of raw material and decreasing energy use in production of biofuels. Biotechnology can also help farmers increase yields per acre and reduce petroleum inputs in agriculture.
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This echoed a statement from the panel that there “needed to be a predictable policy on biofuels for it to succeed and have a real impact” in addressing climate change.