Greener cars that use alternative fuels could help the United States slash its greenhouse gas emissions from everyday driving a full 80 per cent by 2050, according to a scientific study out today.

Greener cars that use alternative fuels could help the United States slash its greenhouse gas emissions from everyday driving a full 80 per cent by 2050, according to a scientific study out today.

That could lead to a more than 10 per cent cut in overall US pollution into the atmosphere, with consumer-driven cars and small trucks currently responsible for 17 per cent of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, said the study.

Corn ethanol would get a larger share of the U.S.

'This year, due to drought conditions, the production estimate was lowered to 520 mn litres. Nearly 500,000 litres of water is required per distillery per day'

Distilleries in Maharashtra face a severe cutback in operations and ethanol output due to the state’s severe water shortage. Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, president of the All India Ethanol Manufacturers Association, told Business Standard: “Of the 90 distilleries, a large number are located in drought-hit Sangli, Satara, Ahmad-nagar, Pune and Solapur districts. Maharashtra’s ethanol production during the current fiscal year is estimated at 52 crore litres, compared to 54 crore in 2011-12 and 68 crore in 2010-11.”

The Rs.80,000-crore sugar industry, hamstrung by a complex web of state controls, has seen a new ray of hope in last week’s government decision to direct oil firms to pay market price for ethanol p