01/17/05 Idaho ethanol bill, part two

The Idaho Farm Bureau is backing the bill that could put ethanol into all gasoline sold in the state. Farm Bureau's Russ Hendricks has researched the ethanol industry and says the timing is right. HENDRICKS "We're in a period of high gasoline prices, a period of, you know, people don't want to depend on foreign oil imports any more with the tension around the world. There's a lot of concern about air quality statewide right now. And there's economic activity and opportunities for rural Idaho. No less than seven ethanol plants are under consideration or development today in Idaho and eastern Oregon. Those plants would need Idaho farm crops to produce the in-state ethanol that would be required starting in 2010. HENDRICKS "At today's consumption we would need 65 million gallons of ethanol to provide a ten percent blend statewide." Hendricks says there's been a lot of misinformation lately about ethanol. He'll try to set the record straight by telling state legislators that ethanol can be used in all motor vehicles and small engines, that it needs no state tax dollars, it's clean burning, sells at a competitive price with gasoline. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott