Midwest Freelancer archive article
Ethanol enjoying political support
(Published Wednesday, March 1, 2006)
By Chris Post/Midwest Freelancer
It would appear that 2006 will be the year of ethanol, with the corn-based fuel additive finding praise from state and federal officials.
President George W. Bush sounded the call for the exploration of alternative fuel sources in his State of Union Address. The president set a national goal of replacing more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.
To do so, Bush has given his support to a number of programs, including one to change the way American’s power their automobiles. The program aims to accelerate research in cutting-edge methods of producing "cellulosic ethanol" with the goal of making the use of such ethanol practical and competitive within 6 years.
“By applying the talent and technology of America, this country can dramatically improve our environment, move beyond a petroleum-based economy and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past,” Bush said.
In Missouri, which boasts several ethanol production facilities, state officials are also eager to see increased use in ethanol.
Attorney General Jay Nixon recently traveled to the tiny town of Malta Bend, home to the Mid-Missouri Energy ethanol plant. At the conclusion of his tour, Nixon said the plant, which employs 38 people, is a perfect example of value-added agriculture that benefits rural Missouri, farmers, consumers, the environment and the nation.
Gov. Matt Blunt is also throwing his support behind ethanol and, earlier this week, joined governors from across the country in calling on automakers to produce more “flexible fuel” cars.
These cars run on E-85, a blend of gasoline that contains 85 percent ethanol. Blunt and the other governors presented auto manufacturers with a resolution reiterating their commendation for the 5 million vehicles operating in the United States that are already capable of using E85, calling on automakers to manufacture more vehicles and models capable of operating on E85 and supporting public policy measures that contribute to added infrastructure for the use of E85.
“If we are serious about moving away from foreign oil suppliers by increasing ethanol use, the auto industry must continue to stand with us in this effort,” Blunt said. “I am pleased to join with other governors to recognize auto manufacturers for what they have already achieved and to ask them to step up production of E85 vehicles and offer a wider range of ethanol friendly cars that are both affordable and appealing to customers.”
Blunt is the first Missouri Governor to include full funding for the Ethanol Incentive Fund in his budget to the Missouri General Assembly. The budget Blunt signed last year included the full $5.3 million in funding for the year as well as $2.7 million of the funds owed from previous years.
By Chris Post/Midwest Freelancer
It would appear that 2006 will be the year of ethanol, with the corn-based fuel additive finding praise from state and federal officials.
President George W. Bush sounded the call for the exploration of alternative fuel sources in his State of Union Address. The president set a national goal of replacing more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.
To do so, Bush has given his support to a number of programs, including one to change the way American’s power their automobiles. The program aims to accelerate research in cutting-edge methods of producing "cellulosic ethanol" with the goal of making the use of such ethanol practical and competitive within 6 years.
“By applying the talent and technology of America, this country can dramatically improve our environment, move beyond a petroleum-based economy and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past,” Bush said.
In Missouri, which boasts several ethanol production facilities, state officials are also eager to see increased use in ethanol.
Attorney General Jay Nixon recently traveled to the tiny town of Malta Bend, home to the Mid-Missouri Energy ethanol plant. At the conclusion of his tour, Nixon said the plant, which employs 38 people, is a perfect example of value-added agriculture that benefits rural Missouri, farmers, consumers, the environment and the nation.
Gov. Matt Blunt is also throwing his support behind ethanol and, earlier this week, joined governors from across the country in calling on automakers to produce more “flexible fuel” cars.
These cars run on E-85, a blend of gasoline that contains 85 percent ethanol. Blunt and the other governors presented auto manufacturers with a resolution reiterating their commendation for the 5 million vehicles operating in the United States that are already capable of using E85, calling on automakers to manufacture more vehicles and models capable of operating on E85 and supporting public policy measures that contribute to added infrastructure for the use of E85.
“If we are serious about moving away from foreign oil suppliers by increasing ethanol use, the auto industry must continue to stand with us in this effort,” Blunt said. “I am pleased to join with other governors to recognize auto manufacturers for what they have already achieved and to ask them to step up production of E85 vehicles and offer a wider range of ethanol friendly cars that are both affordable and appealing to customers.”
Blunt is the first Missouri Governor to include full funding for the Ethanol Incentive Fund in his budget to the Missouri General Assembly. The budget Blunt signed last year included the full $5.3 million in funding for the year as well as $2.7 million of the funds owed from previous years.