Eathington, Liesl; Swenson, David A.

April 2007

As the Midwest gears up to rapidly add new ethanol manufacturing plants, the existing regional economy must accommodate these changes. There are issues for decision makers regarding existing agricultural activities, transportation and storage, regional economic impacts, and the likelihood of growth in particular areas. Many of these issues need to be considered in a simultaneous fashion.

This is an applied research and planning exercise designed to figure out the pace, pattern, and outcomes of rapid growth in the number of corn-supplied ethanol plants in Iowa and in particular sub-regions of the state. This process also has application to future biomass development scenarios as credible technical information emerges about agricultural production and about the future ethanol industry.

JEL Classification: C50

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