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| Corn
growers meet with Cornell University professors to discuss ethanol
in New York. Pictured, left to right, are NCGA Director of Energy
Analysis John McClelland, NCGA Ethanol Committee Chairman Boyd Smith,
Professor Margaret Smith, Professor David Wilson and New York Corn
Growers Association Vice President Keith Culverson. |
NCGA
Meets with Cornell Researchers, Refutes Pimentel Ethanol Report (10-31-01)
The
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), working closely with the New
York Corn Growers Association, is in New York this week - dispelling
myths and flawed reports about ethanol and exploring opportunities to
develop the ethanol industry in the Empire State. Corn growers moved
ahead in that effort in a face-to-face meeting with an author of one
of those controversial reports - David Pimentel of Cornell University.
On
Tuesday, the corn grower delegation met with Cornell professors and
the associate dean of agriculture. Key among the topics discussed was
the controversial report recently released by Pimentel who, the NCGA
says, used outdated and flawed data to reach conclusions about an energy
imbalance in ethanol production.
"We
explained our data to the Cornell researchers, and explained that independent
research using more up-to-date information indicates that, in fact,
1.37 BTUs are produced from 1 BTU of input," said York, Neb., farmer
and NCGA Ethanol Marketing Committee Chairman Boyd Smith. "We also
discussed the economics of ethanol production that Pimentel is apparently
overlooking."
The
corn growers also discussed ethanol research currently underway at Cornell
- largely exploring processes that would make varying aspects of ethanol
production more efficient - as well as the rural economic development
opportunities the ethanol industry could provide in New York.
"The
Cornell staff expressed an interest in renewable fuels and activities
that can benefit the agricultural economy in New York - like building
ethanol plants," Smith said.
The
corn growers wrapped up the day's meetings at Cornell with a peer-to-peer
meeting of Pimentel, Director of Energy Analysis John McClelland and
consultant Mike Graboski, chemical engineering professor at the Colorado
School of Mines.
"It
was an interesting - and cordial," McClelland said of the meeting.
"We discussed the large discrepancies in our numbers, and Dr. Pimentel
asked to see our specific data."
McClelland
said he and Graboski planned to follow up with point-by-point responses
to Pimentel.
More information about data from the USDA and DOE that refute Pimentel's
report can be found on the NCGA web site: www.ncga.com.
Last reviewed
October 31, 2001
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