This is playing today on Iowa News Service Radio Stations.

Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 20:14:18 -0800

IOWA NEWS SERVICE (Radio Actuality)

Iowa Ag Expert: Make Ethanol Earth-Friendly

Des Moines, IA - As the state rides an ethanol wave, an Iowa expert says the
main challenge for lawmakers and the renewable fuels industry is to keep
Iowa a leader in bio-renewables - while protecting the environment for
future generations.  Comments from Iowa State University agronomist Matt
Liebman.

Suggested script:  There are 21 ethanol plants now in production in Iowa and
nearly two dozen more are either under construction or in the planning
phase. For rural Iowa this surging bio-economy has been a blessing -- and
experts say the challenge is to ensure Iowa's leadership in renewable fuels
while protecting the environment.  ISU agronomist Matt Liebman's main
concern is what increased corn production will do the state's soil and
water.

"As we move toward a bio economy that includes not just grain, specifically
corn stalks, or switch grass or things of that nature where we are using the
whole plant, we want to make sure we leave enough of the plant behind that
we protect the soil from erosion."

Liebman says fuel conservation also has to be a part of Iowa's energy
future.

"Coupled with our shift towards renewable sources of energy needs to be a
realistic assessment of how [we] can conserve fuels and other ways that we
use petro-chemicals."

Suggested tag: Liebman says conservation and renewable fuels offer a
tremendous economic opportunity for future generations of Iowans -- but only
if policies are put in place now to also protect the state's fragile
environment.

OPTIONAL REPORTER WRAP - uses first soundbite:
LEAD.  For rural Iowa this surging bio-economy has been a blessing -- and
experts say the challenge is to ensure Iowa's leadership in renewable fuels
while protecting the environment.Craig Lewis reports.

Iowa's energy future......

Editor's note: Matt Liebman is at 515-294-7986.

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