In Farm Belt, Ethanol Plants Hit Resistance

[rodeodance]

Source: nytimes




In Farm Belt, Ethanol Plants Hit Resistance
Andy Manis for The New York Times
The proposed site for an ethanol plant in Sparta, Wis., was across the water from a park.



By MONICA DAVEY
Published: November 13, 2007

SPARTA, Wis. — When plans were announced for a new ethanol distillery on the outskirts of this city of 9,000, residents complained that it would mar the view from the municipal golf course. They worried that its emissions would taint the milk-based products made at nearby Century Foods International, one of the community’s biggest employers. They even argued over whether the plant would reek like burned molasses or blackened popcorn or fermenting beer.


“What they are trying to sell we aren’t buying,” said Deb Moore, center at left.
The T-shirts opponents printed up told the story: “Good idea. Bad location.”

For years, the arrival of an ethanol distillery in agricultural America was greeted mainly with delight, a ticket to the future in places plagued by economic uncertainty. But in the nation’s middle, the engine of ethanol country, the glow is dimming.

In Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and even Iowa, the nation’s largest corn and ethanol producer, this next-generation fuel finds itself facing the oldest of hurdles: opposition from residents who love the idea of an ethanol distillery so long as it is someplace else. ....


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/13/us/13nimby.html?hp

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my folks live in a town in WI---the city planners thought it great idea to build an ethanol plant. built by the locals mostly-then bought out by big agribusiness a few years later. Many locals relocated, fired. they brought in their own management people. lots of bitterness--health benefits few. NO union. Lots of bitterness now (besides the smell).

[Kolesar]

1. This is an "old story" already*

A few years ago, ethanol fuel sounded like an all around winner. However, the environmentalist lobbies started picking it apart on account of a "weak" energy return on energy invested, local pollution, siting problems, topsoil depletion, etc.

*not to take anything away from your reporting :)

[DCKit]

2. Not to mention the doubling of food and feed costs....

Based mostly, as far as I can tell, on the hype of ethanol.

[HereSince1628]

3. I suspect it would smell better than the 'Lil Friskies' plant in Jefferson

7 miles east of that my barn cats regularly raise their noses to catch the rich goodness wafting in from the west.

I gotta think an ethanol refinery shares a lot with the smell of cooking bovine bits on the wind. The aroma of money!

[wuushew]

4. Congratulations you found the only other person on DU whose knows the smell

Luckily the wind doesn't blow the smell to Lake Mills very often. :hi: