Mandating ethanol use sputters

DES MOINES – One Iowa candidate for governor in 2010 said Monday he would support mandated use of blended biodiesel fuel but there were no takers to require vehicles to use 10 percent blended ethanol gasoline.

The question of establishing a fuel quality standard for ethanol and biodiesel was posed by Iowa Renewable Fuels Association members to Gov. Chet Culver and two of his Republican challengers – Bob Vander Plaats of Sioux City and Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll.

Only Roberts would support the 5 percent biodiesel standard approved by the Senate and awaiting House action. He said he would treat if differently than ethanol because the industry is in its infancy and is in danger of collapse due to the Jan. 1 expiration of a federal tax credit and congressional inaction to approve a one-year extension.

However, Roberts, Vander Plaats and Culver said they did not support mandated use of 10-percent ethanol-blended gasoline by Iowa vehicles, preferring instead to rely on market conditions even though ethanol industry representatives noted that usage in Iowa lagged behind the national average share of 80 percent.

“I'm not supporting the mandate,” Culver said after the meeting. However, he said he is pushing federal officials to extend a biodiesel tax credit and to approve an increase the blend of ethanol in unleaded gasoline to 15 percent – which would significantly boost the demand for ethanol.

Renewable Fuels Association spokesman Monte Shaw said Iowa's usage of 10-percent ethanol blended gasoline currently stands at about 75 percent compared to the 80 percent market share nationally.

Vander Plaats said he supports incentives to promote more use of 15-percent ethanol blended gasoline and more infrastructure for E-85 pumps. He also wants to see a pipeline for moving ethanol-blended products and he would support requiring all government fleet vehicles and nonprofit groups receiving state funding to use the highest percentage of ethanol-blended fuel available.

“The power is the marketplace and not mandates,” he said.

Vander Plaats took the opportunity of Monday's joint appearance to criticize former Republican Gov. Terry Branstad – who cited a scheduling conflict -- for not attending the renewable energy event. “When you have one candidate who chooses not to be on the same stage with the others, I think it's telling,” he said.

Rep. Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, was unavailable to attend due to Monday's inclement weather that impaired travel from western to central Iowa.