Ethanol is a joke. We are now producing oil that would make us independent. Bakken— Midland— alone. obama has failed. But no new refineries in 40 years? We need a new government. This old one is real bad.
As this article points out, ethanol is just another product made from corn. After the ethanol is produced, using only the starch, the remaining grain is still almost totally there. From it they get corn oil and a large quantity of livestock feed. It is no different than getting the corn starch out of corn and then using the remainder to feed out cattle.
In that light, the only remaining problem I’d have with ethanol production would be government price supports.
Farmers and processors should be free to break down the corn in any way they wish (whiskey?) and sell it on the open market in whatever form(s) they think will bring them the best return.