A University of Wisconsin study claims carbon emissions increase when land is converted into crops for ethanol. The study says carbon emissions have increased since the ethanol mandate originated in 2007 and is equivalent to 20 million new cars driving on American roadways every year. South Dakota Corn Growers President Troy Knecht, who serves on the American Coalition for Ethanol Board of Directors, says the study’s results don’t make sense.
He says the Wisconsin study is just another out of touch attack on the ethanol industry.
Knecht says ACE is working on its own study showing how proactive corn growers and the ethanol industry are in improving their environmental footprint.
In responding to the Wisconsin study results, the Renewable Fuel Association points out that corn production had fallen more than three percent between 2007 and 2017, while production per acre increased by 16 percent over that time.
