The refineries themselves are emitting excessive levels of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon emissions and volatile organic compounds which can cause cancer. Archer Daniels Midland, a leading ethanol producer, already has been cited for multiple violations of the Clean Air Act.

Nathanael Greene, a senior policy analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council. The Environmental Protection Agency ruled early in April that certain ethanol plants could emit 150 tons of additional air pollution than was previously allowed. “It’s like the Bush administration is trying to make ethanol as dirty as possible,” said Greene.