Oil, biofuels industries drawing closer? Natural allies, say some

The Argus Leader published an analysis of increasing synergy and cooperation between the renewable fuel industry and the traditional oil industry. Grounds for alliance: a belief in the future of liquid fuels. The article highlights a partnership between Marathon Oil and ethanol producer The Andersons in Indiana; a potential hookup between new energy-hungry Valero and bankrupt ethanol giant VeraSun Energy.

Critics of alliances, including Al Mannato, fuels issues manager for the American Petroleum Institute say that ethanol does not involve similar refining issues to crude oil, nor exploration, and is not a good fit with the core competencies of the oil industry.

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