Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Monday, March 05, 2007

Ethanol is the answer

By PAUL PETERSON | Viroqua, Wis.

Energy consumption and the increased demand for petroleum has many people wondering what the future holds in terms of heating our homes and businesses, powering our engines and at the same time limiting the effects on our environment.

The future is now and a big part of that solution is ethanol, made from corn and other crops raised right here in western Wisconsin. Do you realize that if every car in America would burn 10 percent ethanol, it could eliminate our dependence on foreign oil?

When ethanol is blended with fuels, even at the 10 percent level, it reduces carbon monoxide better than any other reformulated blend by as much as 25 percent. Ethanol blended fuel shows a 35 percent to 46 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a 50 percent to 60 percent reduction in fossil fuel energy use.

According to the USDA, production of ethanol from corn is a positive net energy generator, proving environmentalists’ claims false that more energy is used to grow and process the raw material into ethanol than is contained in ethanol itself.

As farmers in Western Wisconsin and leaders of the County Farm Bureau’s, we urge the Sparta Planning Commission and citizens to show their support in moving this project along.

Paul Peterson is field supervisor for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. This letter was endorsed by Coulee Area County Farm Bureau presidents.