Advertisement
I like the fact that wherever ethanol is produced, there are livestock and healthy farm economies. Some people talk about the rising price of corn. Let me tell you — this will happen no matter where the plants are built. But the traffic (and use of fuel) is less when transportation distance is reduced by having a local market. Corn will be on the road no matter where the plants are located.
High slopes, like you have in your area aren’t good for soil conservation. And soybeans aren’t good for conservation either. But converting soybean fields to cornfields makes for good conservation.
What I have seen in Iowa is one town denying the approvals to build an ethanol plant. Guess what happened. The plant was built in a neighboring community and that community is enjoying the huge economic advantages (and not having any of the predicted problems with odor or traffic congestion). If the city of Sparta doesn’t open its doors to this opportunity, some other community very close to you will.
I hope that when I come to Butterfest next year, I will see construction under way for an ethanol plant that will be a source of pride to the area.
The Tribune encourages letters to the editor on current issues. Please limit letters to 250 words or less.
We reserve the right to edit all letters and require that all letters include the name, address and phone number of the writer for verification purposes.
Letter writers will be limited to no more than one letter a month. Please do not send poetry, or items taken from other publication or from the Internet.
Send letters to the editor to letters@lacrossetribune.com.
