It’s a first-of-its-kind plant that’s producing something that could save you money and help the environment at the same time.

You’ve heard of corn based ethanol, it’s that additive that helps your car burn gas more efficiently and cleanly.

We are talking about cellulosic ethanol. Bud Klepper developed the technology that takes wood chips and beetle kill and turns them into ethanol in Denver.

Bud says, “if you were to go to your favorite liquor store and buy a bottle of Everclear alcohol which is 99.9 percent clear, chemically it would be indistinguishable from this.”

John Scahill is with the U.S. Department of Energy and he says what Klepper and company are doing can change the fuel industry, and even the cost of your food. Range fuel uses dead wood, not corn, to make ethanol.

“Using wood chips won’t affect the cost of your beef or your chicken, or your tortillas,” says Scahill.

Another advantage is in the speed of production..the process takes less than 20 minutes..

This plant is the only one of its kind in the world and the federal government is banking on its potential. The department of energy has invested $76 million taxpayer dollars into range fuels. It’s a sign that something that was once considered alternative is now moving into the mainstream.

You may be wondering if the wood chip approach to making ethanol is cheaper than corn based ethanol. Well, the company says it is cheaper, but it wouldn’t say by how much. The first commercial plant of its kind is scheduled to open in Georgia within a year.