News

Wisconsin Farmers Union delegates discuss the future of ethanol

Wisconsin Farmers Union has proposed ethanol policy that would seek 20% cost sharing from state and federal governments for blender pump installation.  That same proposal would also drop policy language supporting federal subsidies for ethanol research, ethanol import tariffs and biofuel exports, bringing plenty of debate Sunday.

Grace McLaughlin is from the south-central part of Wisconsin. She says, “The petroleum industry gets tons of subsidies so why shouldn’t the ethanol industry? And, same again with any tariffs.”

The resolution was highly critical of the EPA for granting Small Refinery Waivers to oil refineries.

Grain Committee Chair Les Danielson says the local ethanol plant helps his operation. “You send a bushel of corn in, you get three gallons of ethanol, you get twenty pounds of dry distillers grain, which on my farm replaces soybean meal. So we talk about feeding local, buying local. I don’t get my (feed from) soybean meal from Mankato (MN) which is 120 miles away. Mine comes from the ethanol plant six miles away.”

And, Danielson is concerned about what happens if the ethanol market dries up. “You know, as we move to electric vehicles, which GM just announced in 2035 they’ll be all EV’s, it’s going to be more power lines, more transmission lines, so we have a history of, you know, having issues with those in Wisconsin.”

Karl Hakanson from Dunn County is also an extension agent in Hennepin County, Minnesota.  Hakanson told delegates he is not a fan of ethanol and says there is too much corn now. “I don’t think corn ethanol is going to hang in there in the long run but, it can be a bridge until we figure out all of this other stuff to get better markets, more markets, and diversity.”

Dennis Rosen questions if there should be more prairie grass ethanol and less corn ethanol, and if there should be conservation standards limiting how much ground can be torn up for ethanol and how many gallons can be produced.

Farmers Union delegates debated over the weekend, but since the convention was virtual, they are mailing in their policy resolution ballots for a February 9th count.

  • With the growing EV market, the ethanol market will be gone faster than you think. Don’t believe the “decades” thing at all….
    Anything else is hiding your head in the sand.
    A realist, not a flamer.

    • Dont forget that ethanol can also be a feedstock for making other things like jetfuel. And even if in 10 years half the cars sold are EV, half will still be needing liquid fuels and ethanol will be some portion of that. And, yes, ethanol and other parts of fuel could be made more efficiently from other things; but funding for that research and testing is still needed. It’s not easy and its not inexpensive. And, right on–people don’t want buzzing high tension wires in their neighborhoods, farms and view sheds, not to mention transfer stations near schools as was proposed in Maryland for example. And someone (all ratepayers–not just EV owners) has to pay for that increased infrastructure. And the increased mining for battery metals. And if those are good-paying union jobs or even if basic human rights are observed, there will be a price to get fair trade batteries.

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published.


 

Stay Up to Date

Subscribe for our newsletter today and receive relevant news straight to your inbox!