September 19, 2010
Our Opinion: Ethanol’s future vital to country
Published in News Press Now
You need not burn ethanol in your car or truck to see the upside in keeping the alternative fuels movement alive, thriving and advancing over the next 20 years.
Without alternatives, we face a future so heavily dependent on petroleum products that we will be held hostage to those traditional powers who control oil and gas resources — be they governments or private companies. For a glimpse at that future, simply look to the recent past.
This need not mean the death of the oil industry. In fact, our resources and infrastructure are so advanced in this regard, fossil fuels will continue as our leading energy source long into the future.
But crafting policies and markets that give consumers a choice of fuels, and consciously moving away from near total dependence on oil, must rank high on our national list of priorities.
This is why we endorse an agenda offered by ethanol industry leaders, including Bert Farrish, chief executive officer for Lifeline Foods in St. Joseph. Among the key points:
* Phase out the tax credits the industry has been receiving during its formative years. In exchange, commit to spending the additional tax revenues to help build up the ethanol distribution network. A goal is to install as many as 200,000 blender pumps at gas stations nationwide.
* Gain government support for construction of pipelines to make ethanol more widely available and at a competitive price.
* Long-term, gain congressional support for a mandate that all vehicles sold in the United States be “flex fuel” capable — that is, capable of burning ethanol.
We expect the short-term issues to be sorted out. Specifically, a decision is likely this fall on boosting the allowable amount of ethanol in gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent. This is a step forward.
But the long-term future of this promising industry is dependent on the things Mr. Farrish is helping to promote. All three proposals are commonsense ideas for how government can help level the playing field as investors in ethanol seek new markets ...
