Los Angeles Times
By David Shaffer
June 25, 2011

Midwest towns caught in middle of ethanol-subsidy fight
Federal ethanol incentives totaling $6 billion will probably be scaled back as lawmakers confront the federal deficit. That has significant implications in states that are top ethanol producers.

Reporting from Claremont, Minn.— The white plume still billows from the smokestack at the ethanol plant off Highway 14, and the 18-wheelers still screech to a stop at the corn unloading station.

Nothing is visibly different at the Al-Corn plant, one of Minnesota's oldest ethanol makers — except that an era of nearly unwavering government support for the industry seems to be over.

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