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LAST UPDATED 3/28/2001
The
This web page has been created to document my opposition of Minnesota's current Ethanol Blending requirements and Minnesota's continued Subsidy of ethanol production
Why is the State of Minnesota still subsidizing the production of ethanol when for more than a year it has been cheaper to produce ethanol that it has been to purchase gasoline?(Evidence)
To See the LATEST NEWS on what our state government is trying to do today, click here
In the early 90's, the Minnesota passed legislation which today has resulted in not only the required blending of ethanol in all automotive fuel sold within the state, but the subsidizing of ethanol's production with $37,000,000 or our tax dollars every year!! (See Minnesota Session laws - 2000, Chapter 488, Article 3, Section 11)
And to beat all, the burning of ethanol blend fuels can not scientifically be shown to better the State's air quality! The State of Minnesota has said so itself! (Evidence)
Can you say, "Corporate Welfare"?
One can not help but be disgusted by the political machine made up of lobbyist, mis-information and ignorance that has resulted in today's misappropriation of yours and mine tax $$$$$'s, and the information/arguments presented above is but the, "tip of the iceberg"!
If you continue reading through my website, you will find a number a argument against the required blending of, and the continued subsidizing of ethanol in Minnesota.
(Note: Did you know that in addition to the State's subsidy of $0.20 per gallon of ethanol, the Federal Government is subsidizing ethanol production at $0.54 per gallon? Where do you think this money is coming from? Your taxes!!)
Do you know the real cost of fuel being pumped into your tank?(Evidence)
In the following pages you will find links to other internet sites which debate the worth of ethanol blended fuels. Read the true facts about:
- How the Corn Growers lobby has published false and misleading information regarding the benefits of burning ethanol blended fuels.
- How the measured increase in air quality is attributed to more efficient automobiles, and not to ethanol blended fuels.
- How it takes more energy to produce ethanol than can be extracted with the automotive combustion of it AND how the energy that is used to produce ethanol is generated primarily by oil/gas/coal plants, which end up adding additional CO into the atmosphere, which is what we were trying to reduce with the use of blended fuels!
- How the combustion of ethanol blended fuels have been shown to increase airborne levels of Formaldehyde and Benzene.
Last year, I spent a large amount of time at the State House, trying to convince our elected members to end the subsidy of ethanol production, and remove the ethanol blending requirement. I testified before both House and Senate committees against ethanol, and even through it was a Bonding Year, they saw fit to increase ethanol spending by $3 million dollars/year, even through there was no proof that it was providing a benefit to the environment or us tax payers!!
After reading this information, please contact your Representative, Senator and Governor, and urge them to immediately repeal the ethanol blending requirement, and immediately revoke all ethanol production subsidies for the year 2000. (Heck, if you were on welfare, won the powerball, and continued to collect welfare for a year, won't the government want that money back?)
I TESTIFIED!! TWICE
On February 10, 2000, I testified before the House Agriculture & Rural Development Finance Committee against HF 2698.
Then again on February 24, 2000, I testified before the Senate Environment and Agriculture Budget Committee against SF 2522 and SF 3127.
Although the legislature disregarded the arguments and facts I presented them and INCREASED ethanol spending anyway, I have made available a copy of my testimony below:
To see my February 24, 2000 testimony, click here
(Note: My February 24th testimony is an revised version of my February 10, 2000 testimony,
so if you read the 24th, you don't need to read the 10th)
To see my February 10, 2000 testimony, click here
I have also written a paper (see link below) which details my opposition Ethanol Blending and Ethanol Subsidies. After reading this paper, I suggest you use the other links provided within my site to:
- Learn more about the costs of ethanol blending.
- Learn more about the hazards of burning ethanol.
- See what AAA, The American Highway Users Alliance, and others have to say about ethanol blending.
- Contact your Governor/Senator/Representative to tell them how you feel.
- See my proposed revisions to the subject Minnesota State Statues.(which I still need to update to incorporate the changes made during the 2000 session.)
To view my paper,click here
To learn a little bit about who I am, click here
Please forward my website to all of your friends!! This way Minnesota's can learn the true facts concerning ethanol!!
Additional Information:
To view additional reports/affected state statues/and other information,click here
Contacts:
Find out who your Elected Officials are!
Find your Minnesota State Senators E-mail Addresses
Find your Minnesota State Representatives E-mail Addresses
Comments/Questions/Support E-mail me!
- Learn more about the costs of ethanol blending.