Gubernatorial Energy Forum

[amesdem]

Candidates discuss ways to promote ethanol
By JEFFREY PATCH
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

January 22, 2006


Cedar Falls, Ia. — Six Democrats and one Republican running for governor offered significantly different proposals on Saturday to promote ethanol and other renewable energy sources.

The candidates for the 2006 gubernatorial nomination participated in a forum at the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Energy & Environmental Education.

"No one has ever gone to war over corn," said Democrat Mike Blouin, the former economic development director, as he argued for a greater focus on ethanol.

Secretary of State Chet Culver discussed his proposal for a $100 million fund to invest in renewable energy over four years. He said it would attract $200 million to $300 million in investment to Iowa. He also said he would appoint a state renewable energy director, convert state vehicles to run on highly concentrated ethanol-blended fuel called E85 and require all gasoline sold in Iowa to contain at least 10 percent ethanol.

"I believe Iowa can fuel the world," Culver said. "I believe Iowa can and will become the first energy-independent state."

Blouin said the Iowa Values Fund has spent $5.7 million and awarded nearly $100 million in tax credits to promote renewable energy in Iowa, and it has received a return of $225 for every dollar spent.

He suggested Culver's $100 million plan was inadequate. "Iowa could and should expect so much more," Blouin said.

Republican Bob Vander Plaats of Sioux City called for all state vehicles and tax-credit eligible vehicles such as hybrids to be E85 capable by July 1, 2007. He also suggested waiving the $85 licensing fee for vehicles that use E85, which contains 85 percent ethanol.

He said his marketing plan would be more effective at raising ethanol use than a mandate, which he said would not help persuade drivers in other states, like California, to use ethanol.

U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle, the other Republican candidate, had a scheduling conflict and did not attend the forum.

Ed Fallon, a Democratic state representative from Des Moines, said his plan calls for "nothing less than energy independence by the year 2015. Anything less than that is simply not ambitious."

"If we really want to see Iowans control renewable energy in this state, we need to get big money out of politics," said Fallon, who proposed limited matching funds for state elections. "You've got political leadership in this state that is bought and paid for by MidAmerican."

Democrat Patty Judge cited the growth of ethanol plants from three to 21 and the jump in biodiesel plants from zero to four since the start of her term as Iowa's secretary of agriculture. Judge also wants to set a goal for 25 percent of Iowa's energy supply to be fueled by renewable energy by 2015.

Democrats Sal Mohamed, an engineer from Sioux City, and Vernon Weems, a Waterloo attorney, also participated in the forum. It was hosted by the energy center, the Iowa Renewable Energy Association and KUNI public radio. It will air today at 11 a.m. on KUNI.