There has been a lot of talk lately about the importance of supporting the ethanol industry here in Minnesota.  I agree that the new jobs and energy independence created by the ethanol industry are important benefits for our state – a leader in this new industry.

I’d like to go one step further and think about how we can increase the use of ethanol, since Minnesota won’t benefit much if supply increases but demand does not. The state legislature is debating a bill right now that would advance our state’s ethanol industry and the use of E85.  The bill is a proposal to bring clean vehicles to Minnesota, a bill called the Minnesota Clean Car Act.

The Clean Car Act would provide a credit to auto manufacturers that can prove that E85 is being used in the flex-fuel vehicles they make and sell. And the Clean Car Act would, over time, shift Minnesota’s current vehicle fleet over to a cleaner, more fuel-efficient fleet, one that produces less air pollution and less global warming pollution, and goes farther on a gallon of gas, by requiring manufacturers to slowly increase the number and variety of clean, fuel efficient vehicles they sell in Minnesota.

Passing the Clean Car Act sounds like a winner to me. I hope Senator Sparks and Representative Poppe vote in favor of the Clean Car Act this year.

Jim Stiles

Austin