14 DAY TRIAL // Corn Plus, a farmer-owned company, has to pay for manipulating numbers indicating their overall environmental footprint for 2009. The ethanol manufacturer from Winnebago, Minnesota, assumed its part of the blame and pleaded guilty in court for falsifying information regarding their contribution to air quality degradation.
As a result, a judge has decided that the enterprise will have to take $760,000 out of its pockets (€569,373), reports AutoblogGreen.
Their intention of pushing data under the rug was spotted after they tried to show the same results to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The company said that their actions are the result of "the isolated acts of a few employees in 2009 and early 2010, and without the consent, knowledge, or endorsement of Corn Plus's senior management."
An internal investigation conducted by Corn Plus revealed the names of the people responsible for falsifications and the company decided to terminate their employment.
Now, Corn Plus must improve its eco-conscious conduct, otherwise its image might be irreparably damaged. It seems that using ethanol to power your vehicle can become quite a messy business, despite its overall eco-friendly potential, when manipulated numbers are a key factor in the entire equation.
Moreover, it appears that this is not the first time the company reveals a tremendous negligence, as it has been previously convicted for poor water quality, reported two years ago.
Even after it was found guilty, the company managed to remain in the game, after paying fines and penalties worth approximately $1million (€749 175).
On the other hand, if the enterprise involves its name in other illegal operations, it risks to be completely shut down."If this happens again, there will be stiffer sanctions,” said U.S. District Judge John Tunheim.
However, Corn Plus officials commit to do everything in their power to prevent such shameful incidents from taking places.
“Nonetheless, Corn Plus has recognized the importance of this matter and has consistently attempted to address any past issues, ensure future compliance with its environmental obligations, and continue to provide economic benefits to our region and State by providing jobs, a market for locally grown corn, and the safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly production of ethanol as an alternative fuel source,” declare the representatives in a press release.