Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com

Published - Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Proposed Eyota ethanol plant faces skepticism

EYOTA, Minn. (AP) _ An ethanol plant planned for Eyota in southern Minnesota is getting a cool reception from conservationists.

Jeff Broberg is a member of the nonprofit Olmsted County Concerned Citizens, which hopes to stop the MinnErgy plant from opening.

The group says the land where the plant would be built is full of sinkholes. MinnErgy has proposed a discharge pipe that would run past a spring and through a wetland, and Broberg says the risk of ethanol spilling and getting into groundwater is too great.

MinnErgy President Ron Scherbring says the Eyota site is perfect for an ethanol plant, especially because of the good quality roads and rail in the area.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is looking at the proposal.

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