Alternative Fuels: Feasibility of Expanding the Fuel Ethanol Industry Using Surplus Grain

In response to a congressional request, GAO examined the feasibility of using surplus federally owned grain to further the development of the ethanol industry, focusing on financing concepts that would allow producers and developers to use surplus grain as either: (1) collateral to obtain financing from lending institutions to either construct new ethanol plants or expand existing facilities; or (2) a free feedstock to produce ethanol, which could induce lending institutions to finance the construction or expansion of ethanol plants or facilities.