US farm economy revs up ethanol-fueled engines

CHICAGO (Reuters) – The burgeoning ethanol industry is changing the economic landscape of rural America, as companies pour billions of dollars into production plants in a race to meet demand and ease America’s addiction to gasoline.

Ethanol backers foresee vast vistas of corn fields churning out feedstock for the clean burning fuel additive running millions of cars in the United States, the world’s largest consumer of energy.

“Ethanol is a tremendous economic engine for rural communities, it results in good paying jobs. You hear stories about opening up new gas stations and businesses taking off the boards from windows on main street,” said Matt Hartwig of Renewable Fuels Association.

He said the industry helped create more than 153,000 jobs last year, boosting U.S household income by $5.7 billion.

Reuters