Liquid Transportation Fuels Will be Needed for a Long Time

The seminal, 2009 NRC report on Liquid Transportation Fuels from Coal and Biomass was thorough, insightful, and forward looking.  Jim Katzer made sure that this report would not only be informative but also realistic.  Jim Katzer was a leader who helped all of us on the panel to address Biochemical Conversion of Cellulosic Biomass and to better understand the broader challenges of the sustainable production of renewable fuels with a low carbon footprint.  His insights from a career at Mobil, and then at Exxon Mobil, as well as a professor, made a great addition to our team.  His capabilities enabled the team to interface our analysis of the still emerging technology and business models of biofuels with the existing petroleum-based infrastructure through which liquid transportation fuels must be delivered and utilized.  His many contributions to the National Academies, and personally, to my understanding of the complexities of liquid biofuels (and sailing) will be missed.  We have lost a friend whose insights to chemical engineering of liquid fuels will make a difference in the years to come.