Uprising Against the Ethanol Mandate Kevin Moloney for The New York Times Published: July 23, 2008 The ethanol industry, until recently a golden child that got favorable treatment from Washington, is facing a critical decision on its future. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to temporarily waive regulations requiring the oil industry to blend ever-increasing amounts of ethanol into gasoline. A decision is expected in the next few weeks. Mr. Perry says the billions of bushels of corn being used to produce all that mandated ethanol would be better suited as livestock feed than as fuel. Feed prices have soared in the last two years as fuel has begun competing with food for cropland. "When you find yourself in a hole, you have to quit digging," Mr. Perry said in an interview. "And we are in a hole."
Published: July 23, 2008
The ethanol industry, until recently a golden child that got favorable treatment from Washington, is facing a critical decision on its future.
Gov. Rick Perry of Texas is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to temporarily waive regulations requiring the oil industry to blend ever-increasing amounts of ethanol into gasoline. A decision is expected in the next few weeks.
Mr. Perry says the billions of bushels of corn being used to produce all that mandated ethanol would be better suited as livestock feed than as fuel.
Feed prices have soared in the last two years as fuel has begun competing with food for cropland.
"When you find yourself in a hole, you have to quit digging," Mr. Perry said in an interview. "And we are in a hole."
The entire California delegation opposed ethanol mandates and then sought exemptions from them. Very little corn is grown in California. They saw this as another Enron. As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
