Idaho farmers not in hurry to use their leftover straw for ethanol

Alternative energy proponents want to take the leftover straw from a million acres of farmland to produce cellulosic ethanol. But many Idaho farmers say they need the leftover stubble for soil conservation and natural fertilizer. Aside from those concerns, the locals aren't in any hurry to develop an ethanol production facility. They've seen proposals for strawboard factories and straw-powered steam plants as well as a biodiesel plant come and go from their area. Still, others see the available money from Washington as signal that an alternative fuel plant can be built soon.

[Source: magicvalley.com]