Dennis Keeney, professor emeritus of agronomy at Iowa State University in Ames co-wrote one of the only published analyses of water and ethanol production last year for the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy in Minneapolis.
He found that Minnesota is the only state that maintains public records on the amount of water pumped by specific ethanol plants. His analysis showed plants used between 3.5 and 6 gallons of water for every gallon of ethanol produced, an amount higher than the 3-to-1 ratio claimed by the ethanol industry.
One of the big issues facing our communities and farming viability in the future will be who has access to the water. It would be a shame to see it all sucked away by corn growers/ethanol producers with $$$ in their eyes.
The two [ethanol] plants have the permits to draw as much as 1 billion gallons of water annually from the ground below Madrid [Nebraska]. By comparison, the 265 residents who live in the village use about 10 million gallons each year.
By next year, an additional nine [Nebraska] plants now under construction will be pumping out more ethanol and pumping up more water. The Nebraska Ethanol Board lists 16 plants in production, 11 under construction and no fewer than 30 under consideration. Under the current pace of growth, ethanol is poised to become thelargest single industry in Nebraska. Most scientific modeling shows Nebraska getting drier in the future because of higher temperatures and less precipitation.
Full posting at http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2007/07/08/special_reports/ethanol/doc46
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County Okays High Plains Ethanol Plant
Construction on the High Plains Renewable Energy LLC ethanol plant should begin in late September or early October after the Board of Morgan County [Colorado] Commissioners approved its application Tuesday.
However, concerns over having enough water were taken out of the approval. County Commissioner Tony Carlson said the important part was traffic safety. Board members did agree to help High Plains get a Colorado Development Block Grant for the project by acting as the financial agent.
U.S. BioGen is also planning to begin construction of a separate ethanol plant at about the same time.
[County Commissioner Jon] Becker noted the county is "held harmless" from the impact of the High Plains plant on the BioGen plant.
Full posting at http://www.fortmorgantimes.com/articles/2007/07/11/news/local_news/bocc%20-%207-10.txt
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Ethanol Is Not the Answer for Colorado's Energy
Before we all link arms and march in lockstep over the corn-based ethanol cliff, we better take a long, hard look at the new "fuel of the future."
We will soon have to face the modern version of our 19th century water wars, as Western Slope and Eastern Plains squabble with the Front Range over our liquid gold -- and all of the above fight it out with the downstream states.
Now, add ethanol plants....
Given that 440 agricultural wells were capped in Colorado's agricultural areas last year, where do you think the extra thousands of acre-feet of water are going to come from simply to grow the corn required?.
Go find the dowsing rod and start looking for water -- a lot of it. And while you're at it, set aside an extra buck or two for the six-pack. You're gonna need it.
Full posting at http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20070709/COLUMNS/107090062
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How Corn-Based Ethanol Can Lead to Environmental Disaster
Instead of improving the environment and moderating oil prices, corn-based ethanol could result in mass deforestation, strained land and water resources, increased food prices, augmented poverty and swarms of farmers uprooted from the land.
In May of 2007, the United Nations issued a report warning the world against the production of ethanol. The report stated that thus far, the production of ethanol has resulted in "the destruction of endangered rainforests, contamination of soil, air and water and the expulsion of rural populations from their homes."
Full posting at http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_3670.shtml
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Speaker’s Stand ... Protecting Alabama’s water
"I don't want Alabama cities to end up like Atlanta, in a constant struggle to meet growing water demand.... After all, water is life."
-- April Hall, Watershed Protection Specialist, the Alabama Rivers Alliance
Full posting at http://www.annistonstar.com/opinion/2007/as-letters-0712-0-7g11u0931.htm
Michael Helfrich | 324 West Market Street | York PA 17401 | 717.779.7915
