June 22, 2010
Ethanol needs more attention
Published in Bismarck Tribune
A recent editorial in the Tribune misses the point of Gen. Wesley Clark’s recent comments at the renewable Energy Action Summit.
Clark, who is co-chairman of the ethanol advocacy group Growth Energy, of which Tharaldson Ethanol is a member, argued that our nation needs a comprehensive energy policy that will end our reliance on foreign sources of oil.
Most of that policy wouldn’t cost taxpayers a single dime.
For instance, the federal government currently limits to just 10 percent the amount of ethanol that can be blended with gasoline for non flex-fuel vehicles.
In essence, we are mandated to use 90 percent petroleum in the vast majority of our fuel supply. Growth Energy asked the feds to allow the use of gasoline blended with as much as 15 percent ethanol (E15).
Despite reams of science demonstrating that E15 is compatible with today’s engines, we have been waiting for more than 15 months for approval.
Studies have shown that allowing consumers the right to choose E15 could create 130,000 jobs and inject more than $24 billion into America’s struggling economy.
All of this could be accomplished without any government spending.
Finally, a new study from the International Energy Agency found that global fossil fuel industries received $550 billion in subsidies in 2008 alone.
Renewable energy, including ethanol, received a fraction of that in government incentives.
By refocusing ....
