text: can ethanol producing energy plants be converted to to butanol easily and cheaply? recently there has been a lot of investing into the production of ethanol (an alternative fuel to gasoline). but lately there has been some talk that butanol would be a far more efficient substitute for gas. i'm wondering if the ethanol companies will be able and willing to change over to butanol, and if there will be a big expense? the problem right now is since the first butanol plant isn't yet complete there is no realistic way to answer this question.   chances are some of the ethanol production plants would be able to adapt fairly simply. more than likely the first butanol facilities will be modeled after ethanol facilities. you also have to remember that there are a number of major differences between ethanol production plants.