Question Earthority!

“Southern and western Minnesota farmers like Tolifson invested in plants that turned corn into ethanol fuel. When the state required ethanol be blended with gasoline, the industry grew rapidly. A little later, soybean growers found a new use for their crop with production of vegetable oil-based biodiesel fuel. Record-high corn prices meant ‘2007 was a good year, I can’t deny that,’ said Tolifson, chairman of Chippewa Valley’s board of directors. Yet also this year, the flourishing corn-based ethanol industry slowed down, the result of a flooded marketplace and growing concerns about the environmental impacts of ethanol production. Energy leaders say the downturn is a speed bump and they look ahead, proclaiming Minnesota is on the verge of the next big home-grown energy development, known by the tongue-tangling term ‘cellulosic ethanol.” (11/28/07)