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Albany, New York
November 1, 2001
The
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), working closely
with the New York Corn Growers Association, made great strides
this week telling the "true story" about ethanol to key
legislators and agencies, academia and consumers in the Empire
State.
Recently, a hurdle that corn growers have faced in New York and
the nation was a report by Cornell University Professor David
Pimentel, who positioned ethanol as an inefficient and
uneconomical fuel. Corn growers met that hurdle head-on in a
peer-to-peer meeting Tuesday with Pimentel.
"Our meeting was very cordial and interesting," said McClelland,
who represented corn growers along with Colorado School of Mines
Professor Mike Graboski. "Dr. Pimentel listened to our concerns
about his report, and we are encouraged that he asked us to
provide additional data so that he can re-evaluate his
position."
A key concern by corn growers is that Pimentel's conclusions
that corn ethanol production achieves a negative balance were
based on outdated and flawed data. McClelland said NCGA will
provide unbiased information from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Energy and other sources
refuting Pimentel's claims.
Corn growers also met with other Cornell University professors
and researchers to discuss the Pimentel report, Cornell ethanol
research and the results of a rural economic impact study
commissioned by the New York Corn Growers Association.
"We were very well received by the Cornell staff, who expressed
a keen interest in renewable fuels and the impact the ethanol
industry would have on the rural economy in New York and
nationwide," said York, Neb., farmer Boyd Smith, chairman of the
NCGA Ethanol Marketing Committee.
The corn growers also discussed the rural economic impact study
data with New York State Sen. Jim Wright, who helped fund the
study, along with key New York agency representatives.
"The rural economic impact study, which would apply not only in
New York but in other states where the production of ethanol
would benefit economies in rural sectors, indicates that the
ethanol industry can sustain approximately 700 jobs through the
annual production of 30 million gallons of denatured ethanol
plus related co-products," said Kevin Swartley, president of the
New York Corn Growers Association, and a corn grower from
Romulus, N.Y. "It is anticipated that these jobs will sustain
more than $45 million of economic activity and provide $16
million or more in annual incomes to New Yorkers."
Swartley added that a one-time benefit of about $91 million in
economic activity will result from plant construction and from
preparation of land for crop production.
Sen. Wright also stressed the potential the ethanol industry
presents for New York's rural economy.
"Innovative technology is paving the way for new industries and
opportunities in New York," Wright said. "In a time when the use
of alternative fuels is becoming more feasible, this could be a
viable path for New York to explore."
Smith concluded that corn growers will continue to work with all
of the groups they met to ensure the development of the ethanol
industry in New York.
"Our work did not stop with this week's meetings," Smith
emphasized. "Actually, it just began. Everyone that we met with
was interested in working with us on these critical issues."
For more information about NCGA and ethanol visit,
www.ncga.com.
NCGA news release
N3928
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