12/04/07 What you really are paying for gas; $6+

Farm and Ranch December 4, 2007 Questions have recently been raised about whether or not biofuels, particularly ethanol, are the direction the United States should be taking in the pursuit of alternative fuels. Some people are questioning the economics or the environmental benefits. Barry Flinchbaugh, Kansas State University ag economist, told the recent Pacific Northwest Grains Conference that biofuels are about more than economics and the environment. Flinchbaugh: "It is national security. You know the war on terror is the only war in history where one side is funding both sides. And that is just stupid. We buy their oil and they train the next round of terrorists. And if you calculate all the costs it takes to protect our oil supply from the Middle East, General Wald who works for the Pentagon and is involved with renewable fuels at the Pentagon, has come up with an interesting figure. He said if you look at every penny that goes to protect our oil supply we are actually paying about $6.50 a gallon for gasoline. Well, can ethanol compete? Obviously! But this is above economics because it is national security. So it is here to stay." Flinchbaugh says if we do this energy independence right the only loser will be the Saudis. He says it is a win-win for every American. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.