There’s probably no type of renewable energy more polarizing than biofuels. Many economists and other analysts believe that in their present incarnation – food-crop-based fuels – these alternatives to oil fail to deliver the economic or environmental benefits sought.

All the more reason, perhaps, to put money into research that can deliver truly sustainable fuels – which the Obama administration is doing (even as it props up the production of ethanol from corn, and biodiesel from soy). Late last week, the Department of Energy named five projects that will get a total of $10 million to try to find better ways to turn biomass into transportation fuels and other products typically made from petrochemicals.

Here are the recipients, as spelled