Springtime for Ethanol- Washington

This article was published on the January 23rd online edition (retrieved online 10pm January 22) of the New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/23/washington/23ethanol.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&ref=business&adxnnlx=1169524184-IUTorpuf5MwxAgBd3JPRQg

By ALEXEI BARRIONUEVO

I really like how this article dissects the problem of American dependence on foreign energy sources. This is often a point of support for the rapid expansion of the biofuel industry, but few question the reality of this claim. The author does a good job explaining the impact of such large numbers (President Bush will probably double the current goal of 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol by 2012). One thing I don't like, though, is that the author didn't mention how limited, expensive corn supply could affect livestock producers. I am also not very fond of the lead. While I usually like narrative leads to help tell the story, I don' t think this was the most impacted group. It would have caught my attention more if they told the story of a grain and livestock farmer that would be affected by the corn prices or use the ethanol in his vehicles.