America,
Thanks for the thoughtful response. You're thinking is nicely described, but ultimately flawed.

1. You refer to www.ethanolrfa.org as a creditable source; Sir, that organization is a registered lobby group for the Ethanol industry, with their board bios note that they all work for ethanol producers. If you give them credence, your objectivity is certainly questionable.

2. E85 as a Fad. You quote production numbers, and hint at the last bluff of the Ethanol industry to push for EPA ok for E85. Perhaps you could read a few scientific sources, that instead of dealing with the marketability, IE hope of business to profit from Ethanol, they've looked at the facts, and realized that Ethanol is a, ahem, pipe dream:
Even the right standard bearer, the Wall Street Journal noted that the biofuels trade is going bust: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12513357... And, strange that you didn't note the declining price of United Ethanol stocks; lots still available if you're interested....

3. Conditional Permits; The fair city of Milton may not have the proper permitting structure in place, but perhaps you've heard of the Clean Air Act? If UE has been breaking the law, regardless of the permit structure of the local government, they should be taken to account.

4. Nice Red Herring; comparing one industry to another failed industry - we're you trying to make a reference that UE will fail like GM due to their disregard for the environment, and their employees? If not, I surely don't get your point.

5. Chemicals; all chemicals can be deadly at a concentrated rate. You note Acetaldehyde; here's what the science says: U.S. EPA classification of acetaldehyde (EPA Group B2) as a probable human carcinogen. The U.S. EPA bases this on "adequate evidence for carcinogenicity in animals and adequate evidence in humans."

And, if you are still happy with this chemical, consider:
"Acetaldehyde, an inhibitor of mitochondrial function, has been widely used as a neurotoxin because it elicits a severe Parkinson's disease-like syndrome with elevation of the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and apoptosis"
www.sciencedirect.com

6. Yes, the poor American Lung Association. They seem to have succumbed to the Siren or Cash call of embracing ethanol. Green washing is common in the Environmental world, and now it looks like ALA is selling out to a few donors, lobbyists, or board members. No respectable non-profit would ever so blatantly step into a political issue.

God bless America. Well said!

I've read all of the below comments; and I have a few points to make for many.

MadeinUSA: water usage to produce ethanol gets better and better every year as technology improves. This Web site (http://www.ethanolrfa.org/policy/positio...) always has the most up-to-date numbers relating to ethanol and comparing it to other manufacturing processes. They work with very reputable testing and statistics companies to get these numbers, too. In addition, I'm fairly sure many ethanol production facilities have equipment to reuse water.

Napalm: You mentioned E85 is a dying fad. Janesvillean is correct, ethanol production and usage continues to increase every year. In 2008, ethanol production totaled about 9 billion, up about 3 billion from the year before. In addition, this production contributed $65 billion to GDP, added $20 billion to household income, and replaced the need for 321 million barrels of imported oil. In my mind, those are some great statistics.

garyprimer: In my readings, I believe I read at one point that United Ethanol doesn't have a conditional use permit because their zoning area doesn't require it.

GhostofGoodrich: You talked a little about emissions, an important topic. However, I couldn't help put laugh at a comment you made, "so breathe deeply Janesville." About a year ago, I reseached emission levels from other industry in the area of United Ethanol to compare. The GM plant in Janesville had 10 times the emissions United Ethanol does. That doesn't include all the emissions from manufacturing facilities associated with the GM plant. In additon, some of the emissions people keep talking about in conjunction with United Ethanol can be found in common ordinary household food, etc. Acetaldehyde is a good example; it's found in fruit, coffee, bread, and plants. Also, a highway is being constructed around the city of Milton, have you ever done the research on tailpipe emissions. Check with the American Lung Association (ALA) of Wisconsin, they'll fill you in. In fact, the ALA is a strong supporter of E85 and ethanol.

Thank you for reading.

boosmaker is employed by UE so of course he is not going to say anything that makes the plant look bad. If the goverment would cut off the funds these plants would be gone as soon as they could drain their tanks. Also 4 people complained,to me thats four too many for a plant that said they were going to be good neighbors. Boosmaker could have been a nazi prison guard "its only 4 what can that hurt" as he herds them to the gas chamber. Also the planning comission said even though they could not do anything they still felt there was a problem that needed to be addressed. Let the fun begin this is just the beginning.

boosmaker, ethanol is definitely subsidized. First Congress mandates how much corn based ethanol must be blended and then they give a 45 cent per gallon blenders credit to make it happen. If there was no blenders credit given it would be unprofitable for blenders and they wouldn't do it. To keep US corn based ethanol insulated from the pressures of the world market, they slap a 45 cent tariff on all but a small amount of ethanol that gets imported. Plus there is a $1.5 million tax credit available to United Coop, which is the majority owner, since they are farmer owned. So ethanol is definitely subsidized as are many other industries, including the petroleum industry.

Denaturant is added to ethanol to make it nonconsumable by the population. The ATF controls alcohol,firearms with anything that explodes, and tobacco to make sure that it's a legal sale. Ethanol can be consumed without additives such as denaturant. If you do not denature you have white lighning or moonshine. Usually denaturant is a low grade fuel source such as a natural gasoline blending agent. Newsread you are right about federal mandates although there are zero subsidies given to the ethanol industry. If the ethanol plant doesn't make money it shuts down just like any other manufacturing facility which is the reason that several have already shut down as well as brand new plants that are now sitting idle. Corn and utility prices also have alot to do with this.

SwissChick: The denaturant added is to comply with ATF. Your chemist is wrong as can be! Do you know what denatureant is? Wow people, learn your facts before you make a fool of yourself.

It has been interesting that some days when the neighbors complain, the plant has been in a planned shut down. Is this a matter of complaining for the sake of complaining?

Not to Date myself, but this looks like a good place for a Stick-Up.
(for you youngsters, that is an air deodorant)

boosmaker - I've also been told by employees at UE that have gone to check out her odor concerns and they have said that her stagnant pond odor in her backyard would drop a rat.

Actually, they have denaturant from a chemical company delivered and mixed to get rid of the alcohol content, or so I've been told by a chemist.

Ethanol is the same alcohol that is present in distilled spirits and alcoholic beverages. They are producing high quality corn squeezin's just like the moonshiners. That is possibly one reason why they mix it with gasoline to discourage human consumption. If they sell it in a pure form as a fuel, they will have to adulterate it with chemicals that make it undrinkable.

newsread5- and you think coal, gas, and oil aren't subsidized? How would they do if they were not? My gas has up to 10% ethanol every time I pump, and it's cheaper than 100% gasoline, too. My cars run just fine.

On another note, so now that this business has no permit to revoke, what is next? Are they in compliance with clean air regulations? How about clean water regs? Are all businesses in Milton in compliance?

If the zoning ordinance requires a conditional use permit for all or non-specific uses, the plant cannot operate without a valid permit. The fact that an approved permit was declared invalid does not absolve the operator from the obligation to obtain a permit. It is not the city's responsibility to provide a permit, it is the owner's responsibility to obtain one from the planning commission.

Janesvillean: Ethanol would definitely be a failure "in the market". It is only viable because of the massive federal subsidies and mandates set for use.

Just when Milton is on the cusp of a symbolic victory, poor Todd Schmidt gets outclassed again. Hard to tell whether Mr. Schmidt and the Milton Council are over their heads, or in kahootz.

And yes, that nice bread smell isn't yeast; it's formeldahyde, like they keep dead frogs in; and a known carcinogen. So breathe deeply Janesville, it may smell fine by the time it reaches you, but what does prolonged exposure do? Who knows, not the DNR, that's for sure! I wonder why Dave Cramer, CEO lives out in Baraboo...where they first tried to build but were stopped by active, and effective civic leaders.

Maybe not a completely dead fad, but the over exuberance of ethanol has hit a tipping point. Just check out the United Ethanol Stock; down from $50 a share to $9.00. www.alerusagstock.com

Plus, just google Ethanol and Bankrupt; the plains are littered with closed plants. If Wisconsin overturned any of the numerous subsidies we offer (IE we're all forced to buy it at the pump - not so in IL or IA!) you can file the Milton plant into oblivion.

A dying fad? It's gone up every year since 1996.
http://www.data360.org/graph_group.aspx?...
http://bit.ly/3rJANi
.
I have my own quibbles about ethanol, but you cannot say that it's a failure in the market.

One day Virginia Goodman called to complain about the smell from the ethanol plant. That same day she was burning leaves in her back yard where she said the smell from the plant was disturbing her lifestyle. I wonder why she didn't bag her leaves considering she is so particular about the air quality and odors around her home. Or is she just upset at the city for not asking her if it's OK to bring in half a million dollars a year in revenue to the Milton community . But lets not leave out the scholarships that have been provided by United Ethanol to the surrounding communities. What a terrible industry.

6000 residents in Milton and 4 had something bad to say. 2 individuals have way to much time on thier hands. Get a job! Sell Avon or something. Get a life and stop screwing with the local economy as well as local peoples jobs and lives. Stop eating pizza and Mcdonalds and eat more CORN.

Way to chase out more jobs. I really think people want other people to be unemployed and poor. Keep the poverty cycle going. Milton is almost as bad as Janesville.

Pete - Tell me more. When I worked at Burdick in Milton we had a huge problem getting engineers, and moving closer to Madison (Deerfield) was the solution. I don't remember a blacktop issue, but that was a over ten years ago.