Environmental Groups Support Wisconsin Ethanol Bill

Wisconsin Representatives have authored a bill (AB 15 - The Ethanol Bill") that will increase the percentage of ethanol blended into gasoline. The amount, 9-10%, would operate without modification on all gasoline automobiles that use the blend. With the addition of an amendment that allows the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to suspend the mandate if the use of 10% ethanol is demonstrated to cause or contribute to violations of federal air quality standards, the bill has now received support by significant environmental groups within the state including Clean Wisconsin, Sierra Club - John Muir Chapter, Environmental Law & Policy Center and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.

Excerpts are listed below. The full text of the press release is available by clicking on the title.

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Clean Air Protection Amendment Gains
Environmentalists’ Support for Ethanol Bill

Madison, WI----Statewide and regional environmental and conservation groups commend Rep. Stephen Freese for his willingness to strengthen air quality protections in AB 15, the bill he authored that would require all 87 octane gasoline sold in the state to contain 9-10% ethanol. The bill is currently in the Senate Agriculture and Insurance Committee.

Sponsors and supporters of the bill agreed to an amendment that allows the WDNR to suspend the mandate if the use of 10% ethanol is demonstrated to cause or contribute to violations of federal air quality standards. The amendment gives WDNR proper authority to prevent possible pollution problems that might result from the legislation.

With the addition of the Clean Air Protection Amendment, Clean Wisconsin, Sierra Club - John Muir Chapter, Environmental Law & Policy Center and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation are now supporting AB 15, the E-10 mandate.

“We are pleased that we were able to work with ethanol supporters, lead author Rep. Freese, and the Governor’s Office,” said Jim Steffens, Ridgeway, Sierra Club Conservation Chair. “As a constituent, I want to thank Representative Freese for listening to our air quality concerns and being willing to negotiate this protective amendment.”

“We are now confident that with the Clean Air Protection Amendment and delaying the startup date for E10 by a year that the state has the opportunity to require offsets for any increase in ozone precursors, such as NOx and VOCs, and visibility impairments, before they endanger the gains we have made in air quality protection,” said Caryl Terrell, Chapter Director of Sierra Club-Wisconsin. “We urge the Senate to adopt the Clean Air Protection Amendment.”

“In our discussions, we challenged Wisconsin ethanol producers to be leaders in their industry,” said Terrell. “Promoting fiber-based sources of ethanol demonstrates this leadership. We also appreciate the commitment by the Ethanol Producers to work with conservationists on ways to deal with community concerns, such as odors and water use at ethanol production facilities.”

“ELPC welcomes the air quality and cellulosic ethanol provisions in this innovative Wisconsin legislation. Renewable energy of all sorts, including biofuels, can bolster farm income, provide environmental protection and improve economic and national security,” said Andy Olsen, Policy Advocate for Environmental Law & Policy Center.

Conservation groups were encouraged by a recent amendment to AB 15 that creates a 20% goal for biomass ethanol from prairie grasses, wood waste and other biofuels by 2020, and a process to achieve that goal. This is a first in the nation.