The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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July 2, 2009

Your View: Ethanol an environmental plus

John Schimek, Easton

Your headline is “Wastewater suitable for ethanol production.” You stated that irrigated corn makes the gallons of water usage increase to produce ethanol. Do you think that with no ethanol production all irrigated acres will sit idle?

Irrigated corn acres did not come about because ethanol facilities encouraged it. Irrigated acres have been around longer than ethanol usage. How about all the water used on lawns and golf courses that grow no food at all?

Your position doesn’t mention that gas from oil is not without water use. Maybe a little research into the water used in gas production will surprise you with how many gallons of water is needed for refining it.

Keep in mind that ethanol has started no wars. It keeps our dollars in the United States of America and also gives us a cleaner environment.



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