<p>Researchers across the world are touting the prospects of turning corn into ethanol, but Lonnie Ingram has spent the last 20 years trying to squeeze that same fuel out of his lawn trimmings.</p>
<p>Ingram, a University of Florida distinguished professor, patented a technology in 1991 that turns waste products like grass, wood and leaves into ethanol, which can be blended with gasoline to produce motor fuel. Now, some two decades after Ingram embarked on this area of research, state off icials say they're ready to put the professor's ideas into action. </p>
<p>The Legislature has awarded UF $20 million to build a new biofuel pilot plant designed to perfect the process of turning waste into ethanol. </p>
<p>"It's really quite a bold move to be supported by the Legislature and will probably put Florida in unique position to accelerate the technology,"Ingram said.</p>
<p>Ethanol in and of itself is nothing new, but it's predominately derived from corn. It makes sense, however, to try to produce ethanol from a source that's traditionally been viewed as a waste product instead of from a food source like corn, Ingram said. </p>
<p>"There is such a thirst for automotive fuel in this country that it cannot be saturated with corn alone," he said.</p>