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Iowa Governor Pushes for Ethanol Fuel Standard

Posted on: Thursday, 23 February 2006, 12:00 CST

By Todd Dorman, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa

Feb. 23--DES MOINES -- Iowa lawmakers risk missing a "historic opportunity" if they fail to approve an ethanol fuel standard this year, Gov. Tom Vilsack warned Wednesday.

Legislators are considering the creation of a fuel standard -- a long-term requirement that renewable motor fuels make up a certain percentage of what Iowans burn in their cars, trucks and other vehicles.

The effort is intended to expand the market for homegrown ethanol and biodiesel. But Vilsack said disputes over details are threatening to scuttle the standard.

"I think it's really very important to have an aggressive standard," Vilsack said. "I think it's imperative we do it this year. The stars are aligned."

But so far the bills are not. A Senate committee approved an Iowa Corn Growers proposal that would set the state's renewable fuel consumption goal at 25 percent by 2015. But a House ethanol bill would push the use goal back to 2025.

Some senators also want to spend $5 million annually to help fuel retailers make adjustments necessary to sell E85, or gasoline blended with 85 percent ethanol. But others would rather use tax credits.

Ethanol backers see E85 as the best way to pump up sales of the corn additive.

And a number of Democrats are pushing for a mandate that would require Iowans to use ethanol-blended fuels. That bill has failed in past years.

Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan, said he's confident consensus will emerge.

"I have no intention of leaving Des Moines without a renewable fuels bill," Johnson said. "We owe it to the farmers of our state."

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Copyright (c) 2006, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa

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Source: Waterloo Courier

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