Nov. 29, 2006: Iowa Ag Expert: Make Ethanol Earth-friendly

For rural Iowa, the surging bio-economy has been a blessing, and experts say the challenge is to ensure Iowa's leadership in renewable fuels while protecting the environment.

Iowa News Service
Nov. 29, 2006

Des Moines, IA - As the state rides an ethanol wave, an Iowa expert says the main challenge for lawmakers and the renewable fuels industry is to keep Iowa a leader in bio-renewables - while protecting the environment for future generations.

There are 21 ethanol plants now in production in Iowa and nearly two dozen more are either under construction or in the planning phase. For rural Iowa this surging bio-economy has been a blessing -- and experts say the challenge is to ensure Iowa's leadership in renewable fuels while protecting the environment. ISU agronomist Matt Liebman's main concern is what increased corn production will do the state's soil and water.

"As we move toward a bio economy that includes not just grain, specifically corn stalks, or switch grass or things of that nature where we are using the whole plant, we want to make sure we leave enough of the plant behind that we protect the soil from erosion."

Liebman says fuel conservation also has to be a part of Iowa's energy future.

"Coupled with our shift towards renewable sources of energy needs to be a realistic assessment of how can conserve fuels and other ways that we use petro-chemicals."

Liebman says conservation and renewable fuels offer a tremendous economic opportunity for future generations of Iowans -- but only if policies are put in place now to also protect the state's fragile environment.