“The Yellow Brick Road” (#1131)

Detroit Public TV
Sunday, 8/19 @ 10:30am ET
(Original Airdate)
Speed
Sunday, 8/19 @ 7:00am ET
Wednesday, 8/22 @ 10:30am ET

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Podcast:

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  1. PLAYING: Entire Show

  2. Segment 1: An OEM Perspective

    Guest:

    • Mary Beth Stanek, Director, Environment, Energy & Safety Policy, GM

  3. Segment 2: The Science of Ethanol

    Guest:

    • Bruce Dale, Ph. D. Professor, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Michigan State University

  4. Segment 3: An Insiders Look…

    Guest:

    • Jim Zook, General Manager, U.S. Bio Woodbury

  5. EXTRA: Bruce Dale, Ph. D. Professor, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Michigan State University


  6. EXTRA: More EXTRAs from this show

  7. EXTRA: Kim Mitchell, Vice President of Engineering, US BioEnergy


Synopsis

Over the years the promise of energy alternatives, at times, has seemed as fictional as the Land of Oz. The 21st century was supposed to usher in a phalanx of Hydrogen, Bio-diesel and Electric-powered vehicles. Instead, the world, for the most part, fills up with the same petroleum that has powered our cars and trucks for over a hundred years. But change is in the air...in the ground...and even in some vehicles already.

This week Autoline Detroit goes on-the-road to visit U.S. Bio Woodbury in Lake Odessa, Michigan -- an ethanol refinery. There John McElroy talks with some of the experts in this industry to hear where this alternative is today, what part of the answer it can be and where it may go from here.

Joining John is Mary Beth Stanek, the Director of General Motors' Environment, Energy & Safety Policy, Professor Bruce Dale, one of the foremost academic experts in the ethanol arena, and Jim Zook, the plant manager for U.S. Bio Woodbury.