HAPPY TUESDAY READERS!

Read this rather interesting article about the Florida State House and Senate that have introduced a bill to rescind a 2008 law that requires that all gas sold in Florida contain 10% ethanol. This bill would eliminate this mandate and give consumers a choice of the type of gasoline they want. However, it might be a difficult choice given that all major US refiners are producing all of their gas as ethanol gas, with few exceptions.

According to the article, there are 10 States that have similar laws. I knew that several on the east coast and midwest had such laws, but I was not aware there were 10. Louisiana DOES NOT have such a law, thank goodness.

Here's the article:

Northwest Florida legislators lead battle to repeal ethanol requirement (BILL)

October 31, 2011 6:58 PM

Tom McLaughlin

Daily News

State Sen. Greg Evers has joined state Rep. Matt Gaetz in the call for elimination of a requirement that gasoline sold at Florida service stations contain some ethanol.

Evers will introduce SB 238 to the Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee on Wednesday. It calls for repeal of the ethanol provision in the state’s Renewable Fuel Standard Act passed in 2008 and implemented on Dec. 1, 2010.

• Read a copy of the bill. »

“It’s a consumer friendly bill. It lets consumers make up their minds on what kind of gas they want,” Evers said.

Evers said the only opposition to the bill he’s heard comes from “the agricultural community” to which he, as a farmer, belongs.

Gaetz, a Republican from Fort Walton Beach, garnered national attention in September when he introduced legislation identical to what Evers is shepherding through the Senate.

Ethanol used in gasoline is created by fermenting and distilling starch crops. Florida is one of six states that in 2008 that passed a mandate requiring all gas stations to use gasoline that is nine to 10 percent ethanol.

Gaetz wants to see Florida join Hawaii in repealing its consumption mandate.

“If Hawaii can get it right, we ought to be able to in Florida,” Gaetz said.

The Renewable Fuel Standard Act was passed in response to a federal requirement that states reach a particular goal for ethanol-based gasoline, according to Gaetz.

Gaetz said it is his hope the Florida repeal “can drive the repeal of the federal mandate as well.”

The “feel-good attempt to use alternate energy” has proven to be a failure, Gaetz said.

Ethanol is hard on some engines, reduces a vehicle’s miles-per-gallon performance and requires more energy to produce than any savings it creates, he said.

Gaetz said the only opposition he’s heard to his House bill to eliminate the ethanol requirement has come “from people who stand to benefit financially from the government mandate.”

But Matt Hartwig, with the Washington-based Renewable Fuels Association, came out swinging when asked to assess the repeals sought by Gaetz and Evers.

“Rep. Gaetz is woefully misinformed about current ethanol production,” Hartwig said. “He’s citing facts and figures that if they’ve ever been valid haven’t been valid for several years.”

Gaetz’s estimates that it takes 1.3 gallons of fuel to produce one gallon of ethanol have been assessed and found to be correct, even low, Gaetz pointed out.

Hartwig said Florida has helped pioneer the research and technology implementation necessary to make ethanol a viable alternative fuel.

The state has invested in the biofuel industry and done innovative things like creating a unique “ethanol pipeline” that carries the product from the Port of Tampa to Orlando, Hartwig said.

“Why is he (Gaetz) so eager to back peddle on the steps the state has taken forward?” Hartwig asked. “I think Florida ought to give itself a pat on the back for reducing its reliance on imports and relying more on state generated products.”

Hartwig said Florida “is in a position to be on the vanguard of the next generation of biofuel technology.”

“Florida has a lot of potential. It’s unfortunate a couple of state representatives could prevent the state from reaching its potential,” he said.

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Read more: http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/state-44907-ethanol-evers.html#ixzz1cQJE0DNN

"Pete" Landry.........comments welcome at ...........way2gopete@yahoo.com