Cost concerns drive ethanol debate
Nathan Becker
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: News
To some legislators, a 10 percent ethanol mandate doesn't look as good today as it did two years ago.
A Missouri House committee listened to testimony April 22 about a bill that would repeal Missouri's E-10 mandate, which took effect in January.
The mandate, officially known as the Missouri Renewable Fuel Standard Act, requires all Missouri gasoline under 91 octane to be a blend of 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol unless the price of the 10 percent ethanol blend costs more than 100 percent gasoline.
The mandate's supporters say its benefits include cheaper gas and decreased dependence on foreign oil in favor of Midwest-grown crops.
Its opponents cite the rising cost of corn because of higher demand and reduced gas mileage because of the lower energy content of ethanol as reasons to pull the law, which was passed overwhelmingly by the Missouri legislature in 2006, off the books.
"Two years ago was a completely different story," said state Rep. Mike Dethrow, R-Alton, Mo., who originally supported the E-10 mandate but now sponsors the bill that would repeal the law.
"At that time, the thought was we would save more on gas prices for consumers, there [would be] reduced dependence on foreign oil, [it would] help corn farmers add value to $2 corn," he said. "Completely different scenario today. ... Ethanol has turned out to be part of a bigger problem."
Dethrow said constituents from his district have approached him with concerns ranging from the use of ethanol in small, two-cycle engines to poorer gas mileage in their automobiles and the rising food prices.
"I'm hearing complaints from moms back in my district who shop at the local grocery store who are concerned about anything that drives up the cost of food, and this is a piece of it," he said.
Ashley McCarty, director of public policy for the Missouri Corn Growers Association, said the inclusion of ethanol in gasoline isn't directly connected to escalating prices of food.
A Missouri House committee listened to testimony April 22 about a bill that would repeal Missouri's E-10 mandate, which took effect in January.
The mandate, officially known as the Missouri Renewable Fuel Standard Act, requires all Missouri gasoline under 91 octane to be a blend of 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol unless the price of the 10 percent ethanol blend costs more than 100 percent gasoline.
The mandate's supporters say its benefits include cheaper gas and decreased dependence on foreign oil in favor of Midwest-grown crops.
Its opponents cite the rising cost of corn because of higher demand and reduced gas mileage because of the lower energy content of ethanol as reasons to pull the law, which was passed overwhelmingly by the Missouri legislature in 2006, off the books.
"Two years ago was a completely different story," said state Rep. Mike Dethrow, R-Alton, Mo., who originally supported the E-10 mandate but now sponsors the bill that would repeal the law.
"At that time, the thought was we would save more on gas prices for consumers, there [would be] reduced dependence on foreign oil, [it would] help corn farmers add value to $2 corn," he said. "Completely different scenario today. ... Ethanol has turned out to be part of a bigger problem."
Dethrow said constituents from his district have approached him with concerns ranging from the use of ethanol in small, two-cycle engines to poorer gas mileage in their automobiles and the rising food prices.
"I'm hearing complaints from moms back in my district who shop at the local grocery store who are concerned about anything that drives up the cost of food, and this is a piece of it," he said.
Ashley McCarty, director of public policy for the Missouri Corn Growers Association, said the inclusion of ethanol in gasoline isn't directly connected to escalating prices of food.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
K.Hill
posted 5/07/08 @ 12:48 AM CST
Corn/grain ethanol is a crutch in developing a sustainable, renewable domestic energy supply. Repealing the measure in haste, however, will only increase further dependence on oil from less than friendly suppliers. (Continued…)
barb
posted 7/30/08 @ 4:55 PM CST
First, I use e-85. My vehicle has a MPG indicator on the computer panel section of the dash display. The milage difference between E-85 and regular gasoline is only one (yes, one) mile per gallon in my vehicle. (Continued…)
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