Dodge City Daily Globe Letter | Dodge City Ethanol Plant
[Note: following letter was held over six days by the Daily Globe: when published, three letters were in the next day's edition attacking it.]
To the Dodge City Daily Globe Editor regarding Dodge City Ethanol Plant:
The statement in the Daily Globe, Dec. 4, 2006, concerning ethanol production that "all-in-all, ethanol production is consider a "no-waste" process, because all the bi-products of its production can be used..." overlooks current research.
In fact (from Cornell University News), "turning plants such as corn, soybeans and sunflowers into fuel uses much more energy than the resulting ethanol or biodiesel generates, according to a new Cornell University and University of California-Berkeley ethanol study. "There is just no energy benefit to using plant biomass for liquid fuel," says David Pimentel, professor of ecology and agriculture at Cornell. "These strategies are not sustainable."
And of course the hundreds of trucks going into Wright and the water that will be used have to be considered as part of a true review on whether the plant would benefit SW Kansas. None of these issues seemed to be part of the Daily Globe article by Ashley Nietfeld. Those involved in the review process must consider all of the facts, not just a few individuals' financial gain.
Best, George Laughead Jr., Dodge City, KS
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Related Dodge City Daily Globe Links
What is ethanol and how does it affect you? By Ashley Nietfeld, Dodge City Daily Globe (note lack of any negative affects)
Letter to the Daily Globe Editor from Steven R. McNinch, general manager, Western Plains Energy, Oakley (ethanol plant manager; note lack of any sources)
Ethanol Pollution Surprise; EPA Finds Worrisome Levels Of Toxic Air Pollutants At Ethanol Plants, 2002
Suit filed vs. Wright ethanol plant builders Plaintiffs claim officials didn't follow zoning regulations, By Tim Vandenack, 18 January 2007, Hutchinson News
Ethanol plant's opponents seek restraining order, by Ashley Nietfeld, Dodge City Daily Globe