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The Senate Natural Resources Committee met recently in Amarillo to hear invited and public testimony on the research and use of alternative fuels and fuel additives in Texas and the cost-benefit of innovative technology in converting solid and agricultural waste into fuel and fuel additives.
Representative David Swinford (Dumas) testified that ethanol use in Texas would help attain the EPA's standard for clean air as well as reduce dependence on foreign oil. The City of El Paso was cited as an example in which the use of ethanol helped to reduce carbon monoxide and toxic emissions from automobiles. He stated that the petrochemical and agribusiness interests are not diametrically opposed in Texas, as there is great potential for ethanol and biodiesel production.
There was discussion of the economic benefit of producing ethanol from grain. Grain yields more byproducts than wood or municipal waste. Representative Swinford stressed that the state needs to get involved with ethanol production. He said it is now a viable industry, unlike the situation several years ago when engines were not as easily adapted for ethanol use.
A spokesman from the Texas Department of Agriculture testified that the demand for ethanol in the future will greatly depend on federal legislation, specifically the energy bill and the Farm Bill (enacted by Congress May 13, 2002.) A local perspective was given by a farmer who raises corn, wheat, sorghum and soybean. He described the benefits of ethanol production. He said that ethanol is good for the economy and the environment, adding value to crops, creating jobs in rural communities, and lessening dependent on foreign oil.
The committee was told that 32 out of 70 ethanol plants in the country are farmer/cooperative owned, and that most of them operate without government subsidies. After describing programs that other states have, the recommendation was suggested that Texas establish in-state ethanol production incentives, exempt ethanol blends from a portion of the gasoline tax, and establish a program of loan guarantees to enable the construction of cutting edge technology biomass-to-ethanol plants. Public testimony supported the environmental and consumer benefits of developing new ways to fuel homes and automobiles while simultaneously creating new jobs and reducing heath care costs.
The Committee will provide a report in November to the Legislature on this and other interim charges studied the past year.
State Representative Ron Clark
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768-2910
(903) 893-9426 * (512) 463-0474
(512) 475-3767 (fax)
ron.clark@house.state.tx.us
http://www.grayson.edu/district62/RonClark.html
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