LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

No mistake, ethanol a good alternative fuel

A motorist fills up with gasoline blended with ethanol.

It disappoints me to read your Nov. 21 guest editorial “The ethanol mistake.” Corn ethanol is not a mistake.

It is achieving exactly what it set out to do. It provides a renewable, cleaner alternative to gasoline, lessens U.S. dependence on foreign oil, and supports job growth throughout rural America.

The corn ethanol industry’s positives far outweigh the negatives. Corn ethanol replaced the need for imported oil by more than 462 million barrels in 2012.

As proud stewards of the land, farmers constantly are improving their practices to minimize the environmental impacts of agriculture. It is the right thing to do, because the quality of our natural resources is paramount to successful crop production, now and in the future.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to cut the amount of corn ethanol to be blended into 2014’s gasoline supply is shortsighted. It sends a clear message to investors, consumers, and rural communities that the EPA is no longer interested in advancing renewable fuels.

America must not lose sight of a future in which all of our nation’s transportation fuel is secure, renewable, and clean.

TADD NICHOLSON

Executive Director Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association Delaware, Ohio