07/27/06 Alternative Fuel Bill Approved

Alternative Fuel Bill Approved. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. The U.S. House has overwhelmingly approved legislation to expand the infrastructure needed to increase the availability of alternative fuels at America`s gas stations. In a 355 to 9 vote - House members passed a measure that establishes a program that allows independent gas stations to apply for assistance to install infrastructure - like E-85 pumps. Kansas 1st District GOP Congressman Jerry Moran - a member of the House Ag Committee - says the economy has a lot to gain from the use of resources growing in our backyards. But at the same time - Moran says the U.S. consumer must have access to it. MORAN: Ethanol means higher grain prices, more jobs in small communities and lower prices at the gas pump. I support a national effort to obtain 25% of our energy from renewable sources by 2025. Congress has taken another step in meeting this goal. Legislation providing incentives for gas stations to sell E-85 passed the House of Representatives. Independent stations will get help to install the tanks and pumps necessary to market E-85. Ethanol is being produced and automobile manufacturers are making the flex fuel vehicles and now we need to make certain that ethanol is available to the consumer. Of the 180-thousand gas stations in the U.S. - less than one-percent offer alternative fuels such as E-85. According to Moran - the legislation approved by the House could double the number of E-85 pumps in the nation annually. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. Every industry has its scandals and agriculture is no exception. The illegal trading of a powdery white substance tipped off an a investigative reporter for the Washington Post who uncovered abuse of a USDA plan to help drought stricken ranchers in the plains states. The powdery substance was, powdered milk, destined for cattle feed that was diverted to create a new secondary market enabling middle men and even the very ranchers it was designed to help to profit at the expense of taxpayers. The USDA thought they had a come up with a "win win" disaster relief plan, one that would benefit milk producer and ranchers by using the surplus of powdered milk as cattle feed. The Post reporter discovered that some states ordered more milk then ranchers could use and auctioned the surplus. Powdered milk became a hot commodity in a global market and now the USDA has now wizened up and included restrictions on feed dealers and stringent prohibitions on exports in efforts to thwart abuse of disaster aide. Thanks Susan. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.