Originally published February 8 2006
Marketing specialist says ethanol industry is experiencing massive growth spurt
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Aided by high gas prices and a 51 cent-per-gallon excise tax credit, the ethanol industry is experiencing a massive boom, says marketing specialist Ralph Groschen, and further growth seems plausible as ethanol producers develop technologies that burn less natural gas and cut emissions of global warming pollutants.
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.
And in Canada and Louisiana, corn stalks, trees and leaves are being tested to see whether ethanol might someday come from a variety of sources instead of the corn that is now its mainstay.
After years of struggle in which some wondered whether the industry that converts corn kernels to auto fuel would ever be viable, it appears that ethanol is coming of age.
Amid worries about a global oil crunch, innovation and investment are transforming the clean-burning, oxygenated fuel into the leading near-term alternative to petroleum to power the nation's 225 million cars and trucks.
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?'" Getting attention Investors, policymakers and researchers are paying attention.
Aided by soaring oil prices, ethanol plants that have relied on a 51 cent-per-gallon excise tax credit to stay afloat are becoming competitive and profitable.
A mandate in the energy bill that President Bush signed last summer all but guarantees the industry will double its annual capacity over the next five to seven years to more than 7.5 billion gallons.
Even Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates' investment firm has poured $84 million into Pacific Ethanol Inc., which is planning to build five West Coast plants, the first in Madera County, Calif.
Nationwide, 93 ethanol plants are making ethanol and another 23 are under construction.
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