Corn Plus ethanol plant using Winnebago’s treated wastewater to produce its fuel just made sense from a conservation standpoint.

At least that’s how Rep. Bob Gunther, R-Fairmont, saw it.

“Corn Plus has always worked on lowering their impact on our environment,” he says. “Looking at the pluses, it’s just another step by them to make it better.”

Gunther and state Sen. Julie Rosen — who both represent Winnebago — sponsored legislation that will help build a pipeline from the city’s treatment facility to the ethanol plant. Cost is estimated between $250,000 and $300,000.

Efforts of the two lawmakers paid off with passage of the Clean Water Legacy Bill during the 2009 Legislative session.

Under the measure, $1.5 million is earmarked in the first year and $3.169 million the second year for projects that demonstrate beneficial reuse of wastewater.

For more of this story, see this week’s Register.