Many signs on gasoline stations around Norman let potential customers know their gasoline is ethanol free. The warnings serve a two-fold purpose: Some customers believe corn-based fuel has led to the rise in food prices. Others believe adding ethanol leads to reductions in a vehicle's mileage.
The industry says the truth is on its side and now is fighting back. A coalition of ethanol producers is launching its own public relations campaign. They're bypassing the traditional press kits and are starting a?social networking Web site so producers can share information. Call it a "corny" facebook if you will.
Corn takes a beating because of its many uses in food and animal feedlots. New pilot cellulosic fuel plants should begin producing fuel from corn cobs and fiber by the end of the year, according to an Associated Press report from the ethanol meeting.
Congress last year passed legislation requiring 9 billion gallons of ethanol to be blended into gasoline supplies this year. Next year, that amount rises to 11 billion gallons. By 2022, refiners must use 36 billion gallons of ethanol.
Oil companies and ethanol producers will continue to get blamed for the higher fuel prices. Creating fuels from something other than fossil fuels remains expensive. Corn-based plants need to work on their efficiency, producers shared at last week's meeting in Omaha.
