Senator Bowen is optimistic with regard to ethanol's role in California, and provided a five-point plan for effectively dealing with the MTBE water crisis in California and other states:
California Senator
Debra Bowen
| As a featured speaker at the Renewable Fuels
Association's National Conference on Ethanol Policy and Marketing, California State
Senator Debra Bowen discussed the MTBE debate raging in California as well as the use of
alternatives, such as ethanol. Senator Bowen, Chairwoman of the Senate Energy, Utilities
& Communications Committee, has been a leading advocate for consumer choice regarding
oxygenate use in California cleaner burning gasoline in light of growing concerns about
MTBE. Senator Bowen is optimistic with regard to ethanol's role in California, and provided a five-point plan for effectively dealing with the MTBE water crisis in California and other states: |
California Senator |
- Conduct a thorough review of all the alternatives to MTBE and grant the California Air Resources Board increased flexibility to permit the use of non-MTBE fuels.
- Consider the economic implications of an MTBE phase-out, including supply/logistics issues and the impact on gasoline prices.
- Re-examine the main culprits of groundwater contamination, especially leaking underground storage tanks, boats and jet skies, and the monitoring of pipelines.
- Review and revise current clean up and remediation policies to ensure the effective treatment of spills when they occur.
- Look at non-fossil fuel solutions for California's energy needs.
