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Abstract
The location of ethanol plants is determined by infrastructure, product and input markets,
fiscal attributes of local communities, and state and federal incentives. This empirical
analysis uses probit regression along with spatial clustering methods to analyze investment
activity of ethanol plants at the county level for the lower U.S. 48 states from 2000 to 2007.
The availability of feedstock dominates the site selection decision. Other factors, such as
access to navigable rivers or railroads, product markets, producer credit and excise tax
exemptions, and methyl tertiary-butyl ether bans provided some counties with a
comparative advantage in attracting ethanol plants.