06/29/05 Energy bill not a `done deal` just yet

The Senate has finally passed an Energy Bill. The House version of the bill is far different from the Senate's bill which expands ethanol use, gives 18 billion dollars in energy tax breaks but makes no mention of drilling in the Alaska Wildlife Refuge. The head of Treasure Valley Renewable Resources John Hamilton doesn't expect that the differences can be ironed out before the August congressional recess. HAMILTON "The one that sticks out in my mind is the forgiveness of companies that used MTBE as an additive. In the Senate bill it didn't speak to it and in the House bill they held them responsible." Hamilton says the ANWR question and the cost of the legislation are also stumbling blocks. President Bush proposed a 6.7 billion dollar energy bill but the House upped the ante to eight billion. The Senate bill passed yesterday calls for 16 billion dollars over ten years. But Hamilton says the Senate's annual eight billion gallon ethanol mandate will create a market. HAMILTON "And I think it will be filled. If you look at the plants coming on line and you even look at our plant it should increase and work to the efficiency of agriculture." The House Energy Bill only requires five billion gallons of ethanol. Tomorrow, we'll update Hamilton's proposed refinery near Ontario, Oregon. Today's Idaho Ag News