Nebraska: Governor Mike Johanns signed into law an ethanol production credit bill. The bill, LB 536, provides a credit of 18 cents per gallon for new construction up to 15.625 million gallons. The law also provides 7.5 cents per gallon for new production expansion between 2 and 10 million gallons. 

Kansas: Governor Bill Graves signed into law legislation to amend and extend the state's producer incentive program. The bill, HB 2011, extends the program through 2007, providing a maximum of $3.5 million per year. The program provides existing producers a 5-cents per gallon incentive payment on up to 15 million gallons of annual production. Expanded capacity and new production is eligible for a 7.5 cents per gallon payment.

Missouri: Missouri Governor Bob Holden signed into law a bill requiring MTBE to be labeled on Missouri fuel pumps by the end of August 2001. The bill, SB 462, requires labeling for fuel containing greater than one percent by volume MTBE. "For years, we have labeled pumps that contain ten percent ethanol. This works to inform and promote use of the fuel," said Governor Holden. "Senate Bill 462, which calls for the labeling of all oxygenate additives over one percent, is a great next step in making ethanol the oxygenate of choice for Missouri consumers."

Iowa: Governor Tom Vilsack signed into law an ethanol retail incentive bill that could mean lower pump prices for Iowa consumers, better corn prices for Iowa farmers, new jobs and increased state revenues, according to the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

House File 716 provides credits for gasoline retail stations that sell more than 60 percent of their total fuel as ethanol blends. By linking the credits to the individual retail location, the law provides an incentive for marketers to make more ethanol fuel available and to expand ethanol sales beyond the 60 percent level. According to Iowa Corn Growers Association, ethanol generates more than $3 billion in economic activity for Iowa and adds about $780 million to the value of the corn crop.

Minnesota: The Clean Cities National Partner Award has been awarded to Minnesota ethanol advocates for their work to develop an E85 fueling infrastructure in the state. Today 50 E85 stations are open to the public, primarily in the Twin Cities area. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham commended the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Department of Commerce and Holiday Station stores for "their vision and initiative and urge them to continue their efforts to increase the use of clean, domestically produced alternative fuels."

Washington: The State of Washington has banned the use of MTBE, becoming the 11th state in the nation to seek action to prevent continued use of the additive due to concerns regarding widespread MTBE water contamination. MTBE has been detected in groundwater near 48 percent of the state's filling stations.

According to the law, "methyl tertiary-butyl ether may not be intentionally added to any gasoline, motor fuel, or clean fuel produced for sale or use in the state of Washington after December 31, 2003," and that in no event may MTBE be knowingly mixed in gasoline above six-tenths of one percent by volume.

Washington joins Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, and South Dakota in banning MTBE. Illinois is expected to enact an MTBE ban later this year.