01/20/06 Ethanol workshop

There may be another attempt in the Idaho legislature this year to require that ethanol be added to all of the gasoline sold in the state. Critics of ethanol say it takes more energy to produce it than you get. USDA senior ag economist Doctor Hosein Shapouri says that was true in 1980, but not true today. SHAPOURI "The plants have become more cost efficient and energy efficient. Ethanol yield per bushel of corn in early 80's was less than two and a half gallons; now 2.8 gallons per bushel of corn." He says the positive net energy balance of ethanol continues to improve. California air quality expert Doctor Gary Whitten told lawmakers at the Statehouse workshop that gasoline with a ten percent ethanol mixture has many environmental benefits. One of the most important is the reduction of fine particulates emitted in gasoline engine exhaust. WHITTEN "Health effects scientists in Australia do believe that there are twice as many people in Australia that die from breathing automobile exhaust as are killed in automobile collisions on their highways." Both men see benefits from ethanol and as Shapouri put it, we can expand on it but if we don't we'll lose another home grown industry to a foreign country. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott