Kansas Governor Graves To Lead 22-State Ethanol Group

Topeka, KS -- Kansas Governor Bill Graves has begun his term as 1999 chairman of the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition. Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack was selected vice chairman of the group and will assume the chairmanship in 2000.

Governor Graves noted opportunities and challenges which face the industry. "Priority," he said, "will be on the continued growth of ethanol use in new mass markets where the fuel’s environmental benefits are key to improving air quality. Other goals are the further development of fueling infrastructure for E-85 vehicles, and the continued promotion of E-85 vehicles for use in public and private fleets. E-85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

"The effectiveness of the Coalition depends on its cooperation with others, including domestic ethanol producers, farmers, commodity groups, cooperatives, technology innovators, fuel users, distributors and transportation experts," Graves said.

Vice Chairman Governor Vilsack noted, "The Coalition has the opportunity to promote renewable ethanol to capture both value-added economic and environmental benefits."

A native of Salina, Kansas, Graves is the 43^rd governor of Kansas. He began serving his second term January 11, 1999. Governor Graves is a former Kansas Secretary of State and former chairman of the Midwest Governors’ Conference. He also currently serves as chairman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.

The next meeting of the Coalition will be February 24-25, immediately after the close of the National Conference on Ethanol Policy and Marketing in Las Vegas, and just prior to the Western Petroleum Marketers Association conference. The February meeting will focus on near-term opportunities to expand ethanol use across the nation.

The 22-member Governors’ Ethanol Coalition also includes representatives from Brazil, Canada, Sweden and Mexico. The goals of the organization are to increase ethanol’s use, to decrease the nation’s dependence on imported energy resources, improve the environment and stimulate the national economy.