Ethanol mirage is coming to light

To the editor:The people of Cape Girardeau have finally understood the ramifications these ethanol plants will introduce into our environment. The Southeast Missourian brought to light the pollution these plants will emit into our communities and our natural environment. I have been talking about this issue for some time now, and I would suggest if you are as concerned about this issue as I am, speak out and let the politicians know how you feel.

This industry is great at touting how green it is and how economical it is. However, if one does the math it is clear it is not as green as industry officials want you to think, and it certainly is not economical. Let's lay it out. The subsidy the ethanol plants get from the government is unbelievable at 52 cents per gallon produced before they even sell a drop of it, but the gas mileage is four to five miles per gallon less than gasoline.

So what is the benefit? The benefit is not for the working man. It is for the producers and the politicians. We need to protect our environment we live around and not allow this industry to walk all over us and ruin our way of life we enjoy around Cape Girardeau and Scott County. The amount of cancer-causing pollution expected to come out of these three plants should scare the people living in the vicinity of these plants. It's time to say "Not in my community."

MONTY KEESEE, Scott City