Posted by Jane Clark

Monday's Des Moines Register carried a headline "Ethanol prospects
brighten" -- "Senate legislation appears likely to require wider use of the
corn-based fuel"
By Jane Norman, Register Washington Bureau

A national requirement that ethanol be blended with gasoline has a chance to
become part of a Senate energy bill as lawmakers try to increase homeland
secruity and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
Clipped>>>>>>>>>

Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa said that Republicans might try to attach
their energy plan -- with an ethanol requirement -- to an economic-stimulus
plan expected to be debated on the Senate floor in the next few days.  "I
think it's a foregone conclusion it's going to be in there," he said.
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In exchange for the reformulated-fuel standard, farm-state lawmakers might
have to give up support of a 1990 clean-air law that has opened the way for
wider ethanol use but has been challenged by states that find it difficult
to put in place.  California is appealing an EPA denial of its request for a
waiver.

The Republican bill probably will also include a provision opening the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for new oil and gas leases, a proposal
likely to draw opposition from many Democrats.  Grassley, however, said he
had voted for drilling in the refuge in the past and probably would do so
again.
>>

The article continues on that Sen. Daschle is regarded as an ethanol
champion.  Sen. Harkin (Iowa) said if the energy plan didn't make it to the
floor he would consider another bill for renewable-fuel requirement.

On the question of drilling in the Arctic Refuge, said Harkin, "I don't
think that is a good trade-off".

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