A study from the University of Minnesota claims that ethanol production is resulting in a dramatic increase in water use, larger than was previously thought. However, by looking at water use in isolation, the report fails to take into account numerous factors that must be part of the water use discussion.

"Expansion of America's renewable fuels industry is occurring with the most efficient use of natural resources like water in mind," said Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen. "Ethanol producers are investing in new technologies that reduce water use, improve efficiency, and employ feedstocks in addition to grain for ethanol production. It is important that these worst-case scenarios offered by the University of Minnesota are not allowed to overshadow the improvements being made in farming and renewable fuel technologies."

The paper failed to note statistics from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory showing that 96 percent of all the corn used in ethanol production comes from non-irrigated acres. Less than 15 percent of the total corn crop is irrigated. The report makes much of its suggested water use for ethanol production in California. However, it fails to account for the fact that virtually all of the corn for ethanol production in California comes from the Midwest, not California. The paper also provided no comparison with respect to other fuel sources and focuses exclusively on ethanol production while ignoring the livestock feed co-product of the process.