Ethanol plants good for Missouri

To the editor:Missouri currently is home to three farmer-owned ethanol plants in Macon, Craig and Malta Bend. A fourth plant is under construction in Laddonia and a fifth at St. Joseph.

Legislation pending in the General Assembly would require that nearly all gasoline sold in the state contain 10 percent ethanol. The proposed Missouri Renewable Fuel Standard would help with expansion throughout the state by establishing a minimum content of ethanol that refiners must introduce into their formulas.

The demand for ethanol will continue to increase as oil becomes more expensive and legislation mandating ethanol use goes into effect. If you don't get on board and do this in Missouri, the money and jobs will go somewhere else.

According to a recent University of Missouri economic-impact study, ethanol production in Missouri is expected to reach 350 million gallons annually by the end of 2008. This growth would create 5,613 jobs, generate $63 million in tax revenue and inject an estimated $726 million into the state's economy.

An ethanol plant would employ between 40 and 50 full-time employees, would provide another market for farmers to sell corn and get a better return on their product, This would impact the economy by providing construction jobs, and an increased demand for service industries to serve the plant, including restaurants, convenience stores and lodging.

Ethanol is the way of the future. One way or another, these plants are going to be built -- I hope at the port overlooking the Mississippi River. It's the perfect place.

SCOTT EDWARD BRANT, Bay City, Texas