Originally published December 29 2005
Rapid growth in ethanol production makes the future of alternative fuels look more promising
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Ralph Groschen, a marketing specialist for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, spoke with the Star Tribune about the growth trend that has been established in the ethanol industry, as the government's recent sponsorship of energy legislation has helped widen demand for the alternative fuel.
The ethanol business, once perceived as an industry kept alive mostly by government support, is becoming more viable amid worries of a global oil crunch.
Innovation and investment are transforming the process of turning corn kernels into auto fuel, making it the leading near-term alternative to petroleum for the nation's 225 million cars and trucks.
"The industry is growing out of its gourd," Ralph Groschen, a marketing specialist for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, told the Star Tribune.
Now they're saying, 'What if we get these plants built, and the ethanol market doesn't grow as fast as it's supposed to?'"
Agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland Co. is building a plant that will make five times as much of the gasoline additive as a typical operation.
Ethanol plants that have long relied on a 51-cent per gallon excise tax credit to keep in business are becoming competitive and profitable.
At the same time, producers are installing technologies to burn less natural gas in the production of the alternative fuel and cut emissions of global warming pollutants - a step that could muffle critics of ethanol.
Even an investment firm owned by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has invested $84 million into Pacific Ethanol Inc., which is planning to build five West Coast plants.
A mandate in the energy bill President Bush signed last summer all but guarantees the industry will double its annual capacity in the next five to seven years, to more than 7.5 billion gallons.
Today, ethanol accounts for less than 3 percent of the fuel from gas pumps, and only a tiny percentage of gas stations offer E-85.
Rep. Gil Gutknecht, R-Minn., has proposed a 10 percent nationwide ethanol mandate by 2010.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml