Is too much water wasted in the creation of ethanol?

In this week's news feature, Sucked Dry, writer Conrad Wilson looks at the burgeoning ethanol industry in Minnesota, and wonders whether we're depleting one natural resource while trying to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. An exceprt: "The industry uses massive amounts of water. It's a key component during the fermentation and cooling stages of ethanol production. And most plants in the state are much less efficient than Granite Falls, which has the benefit of being located near another water source. Minnesota Energy, a plant in Buffalo Lake, uses 4.5 gallons of water to produce just one gallon of ethanol." Read the story here, then come back to join the conversation.