I have not looked to see where our our Democratic candidates stand on emphasizing ethanol in boosting Indiana's economy. I have heard nothing where Daniels has changed his position that ethanol (and corporate hog farms) is a his agricultural policy. Meanwhile, I see signs in Henry County pushing for Blue River Ethanol.Indiana could pay a price for joining the ethanol gold rush at a bad time.
Ethanol production capacity has expanded so rapidly in the United States that there are likely to be some plant shutdowns, cheap resales, consolidations and bankruptcies, an expert says.
We have pushed corn based ethanol as a way of saving Indiana's farms with resulting higher food prices, and now it may be heading to a bust. Where does this leave Indiana's farmers and consumers?
Deb Abbott, spokeswoman for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, is more optimistic than Hurt.
"Biofuels, including ethanol, continue to represent tremendous opportunity for our farmers, our rural communities and our environment," she said. "As any industry continues to grow, companies must constantly adjust strategies to stay in tune with the market. This is a normal part of business, and biofuels are no exception. What you're seeing is this adjustment and not an end of the ethanol industry."
She added: "We are excited about the investment and the jobs that biofuels projects have brought to communities throughout the state. While additional projects may come at a slower pace, we expect Indiana to continue to benefit from additional projects in the future."
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