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Sen. Kibbie: Moves bio-fuels expansion legislation through Iowa Senate Agriculture Committee
3/6/2008

Sen. Jack Kibbie: 712-852-4140

DES MOINES – Consumers will have an easier time filling their vehicles with bio-fuels such as bio-diesel and fuels with a higher percentage of ethanol, if legislation approved today by the Iowa Senate Agriculture Committee becomes law.

“The legislation we approved would offer retailers an expanded range of options when requesting state help to install the infrastructure needed to sell bio-diesel and fuels with more ethanol than E10,” said Iowa Senate President Jack Kibbie (D-Emmetsburg).  “We are expanding the cost-share Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program, which we created in 2006, and which will have $9 million to distribute in the next budget year.”

The changes to the fund increase the amount of cost-share a retailer can request and expands the improvements which could be covered by the fund to include heated tanks required for bio-diesel and blending pumps which allow consumers to purchase automobile fuels with more than 10 percent ethanol (E10).

“In Minnesota and South Dakota, where these pumps are already in use, many consumers choose to increase the amount of ethanol in their fuel,” Kibbie said. “That’s good for our rural economy and for our environment.”

The legislation, which is headed to the Senate as a whole, also includes a requirement that all government subdivisions in Iowa use bio-diesel if it is available.  With Kibbie’s support, the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier approved a tax credit for users of bio-diesel and higher ethanol content fuels.  That legislation is now before the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

“We are working to eliminate the barriers that prevent consumers from choosing bio-fuels,” said Kibbie.  “Increasing your choices at the pump is an obvious step forward.  When I drive from Emmetsburg to the State Capitol, I pass by only one E85 pump.  If given the option, Iowans would rather use the fuels we produce here in our state rather than import it from the Middle East.”


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