Reuters retracts inaccurate article on ethanol GHG emissions
Summary
Reuters on Sept. 23 retracted an article originally published on Sept. 8 that made highly misleading claims about the greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts of U.S. ethanol plants. “The original story relied on an incorrect assumption that an ethanol facility’s actual production always matches its nameplate capacity,” said Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the RFA. “Countering this particular article was important to us because the reporter initially got so much wrong, and we knew the main conclusion or talking point—as far-fetched it was—would be used as just another a stick with which to beat the industry,” Cooper continued. “We always strive to be available and willing to discuss often-complex ethanol policy, regulatory, and technical issues with members of the news media.” “Early on Growth Energy learned of this story taking shape and immediately reached out to dispute her argument and outline the well-established flaws of the data assumptions being made,” said Growth Energy in a statement. “More importantly, we worked with our member companies represented in the Reuters piece to effectively and efficiently correct the record, which resulted a complete retraction of the story.”