Ethanol surged to the highest price in more than seven years as producers struggle to get the biofuel to consumers while demand for it climbs. Futures rose 1.7 percent a day after BNSF Railway said a winter storm in the Midwest would force it to reroute trains there, leading to longer transit times. Ethanol is delivered by rail, truck and barge, and about 89 percent of plants are located in the region. “Rail transport is difficult and that inherent difficulty is compounded by weather,” said Peyton Feltus, president of Randolph Risk Management Inc. in Dallas . “Some plants have slowed down or halted production because they couldn’t do anything with it.” Denatured ethanol for April delivery gained 5.8 cents to settle at $3.517 a gallon on the Chicago Board of Trade, the highest close since July 10, 2006. It was the fourth consecutive advance. Futures have gained 84 percent […]