Corn Growers Say They Can Double Ethanol Production

U.S. farmers could grow enough corn to produce 25 billion gallons of ethanol in 2030, twice as much as this year’s target of 12 billion gallons, said Darrin Ihnen, president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). Asserting corn yields could double in 20 years, NCGA says there would be enough corn in 2030 to produce 25 billion gallons of ethanol, he said. Of course, readers of this blog know that Congress explicitly limited corn ethanol to 15 billion gallons in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Neverthless, the NCGA head says, “if we don’t get past the higher-blend issue, then even 15 billion (gallons) is moot,” told Reuters referring to a proposal pending at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow up to 15 percent ethanol in gasoline.