December 2004 eNews Bulletin

Opinion: Now Is the Time for Idaho to Take Advantage of Ethanol-blended Fuels

The Statesman’s editorial of Dec. 6 stated the time is not right for the Farm Bureau’s ethanol plan because of cost, uncertain results, and lack of competition. As an ethanol marketer in the Boise area for the past 20 years, I ask the editorial board, if not this year, when will be the right time for Idaho?

The time was right for Denver in the winter of 1988-89. The city had a major air quality problem and mandated the use of oxygenated fuel for three or four months of each year. The results were a 30% reduction in its pollution. (Pew Center on Global Climate Change: “... given current corn yields, production methods, and modern fermentation and distillation methods, corn-based ethanol reduces full fuel cycle greenhouse gases emissions by slightly more than 30% in comparison with gasoline.”)

The time was also right for Spokane, Wash., and Missoula, Mont., in the mid-1990s. These two cities had similar problems with air quality. Using ethanol-blended fuels periodically improved their air quality.

And three years ago, California found ethanol-blended fuels reduced their ozone problem without any increase at the pumps for blended gas over non-blended fuels. Currently, California uses more than 700 million gallons of ethanol annually.

Fortunately, these other Western states did not use outdated or incorrect data. Ethanol is used as a clean air additive for gasoline because it burns more completely than gasoline. It even helps the gasoline burn more completely. So the real test of a fuel isn᾿t the number of BTUs it contains. The test is how much of its energy content can be utilized by a vehicle᾿s engine.

That᾿s why the time was right for GM, Ford and other auto manufacturers to produce flexible fuel vehicles that can run with a maximum of 85% ethanol. In 2005, over 2 million of these autos will be made.

In 1989, the time was right for Gov. Cecil Andrus to promote the use of ethanol enhanced gasoline. And again this year Gov. Dirk Kempthorne encourages its use to develop another outlet for Idaho products, clean our air, and reduce foreign dependence on oil. In fact, Gov. Kempthorne has shown his support for ethanol by driving an E85 vehicle and filling it with E85 fuel.

The time is now for Idahoans to invest in renewable fuels and defend against even higher priced gasoline than the skyrocketing costs of 2004. While oil companies are making enormous profits, they are also receiving hundreds of millions in tax credits and subsidies.

Now is the time for the Idaho Legislature to act. It can choose to mandate ethanol-blended fuels for our worst inversion months or limit the mandate to the areas of the state, like the Treasure Valley, that are most likely to become out of compliance with EPA regulations.

In the many years I have marketed ethanol, I have seen resistance to it melt away as drivers experience smoother-running vehicles with cleaner engines. Although the Simplot ethanol plants have closed, ethanol production in Idaho can have a bright future. Our parent company, which owns the Wyoming plant that produces much of the ethanol for Idaho, has signed a lease for the former Simplot plant in Burley. I believe more companies will recognize the potential and build other plants around the state.

And while our farmers uncover another outlet for Idaho᾿s grains, we will all be decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, even if it is only 10% with each tank of gas.

For more information, go to www.ethanolacrossamerica.net. This grassroots information network is committed to advancing the production and use of ethanol by implementing education and outreach programs.

James Glancey of Boise is president of Wyoming Ethanol.