Ethanol Use
in California Edges Closer
Legislation to remove the state's oxygen cap,
which has prohibited ethanol blending in the state, is moving steadily
through the legislative process with little opposition. Sponsored by Assembly
Natural Resources Chairwoman Debra Bowen, AB 1642 would remove the state's
maximum and minimum oxygen requirements in California's reformulated gasoline
program. Prompted by public concerns related to the discovery of MTBE in
groundwater in California, Assembly Bill 1642 would allow the blending
of ethanol, opening the state's oxygenate market to competition and providing
consumers a choice of gasoline blended with renewable ethanol or gasoline
blended with MTBE.
The bill was approved
unanimously by the full Assembly, and has been referred to the Senate,
which is expected to consider it later this year. The bill has received
endorsements from a majority of the state's environmental, consumer, renewable
energy and agriculture interests because of the potential economic and
environmental benefits presented by in-state ethanol production, particularly
from rice straw, a waste product which is currently disposed of by open
field burning, presenting environmental concerns.
