Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns takes over from Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack as Chairman of the Coalition for 2001.  Newly appointed Missouri Governor Bob Holden has agreed to serve as the Coalition's Vice Chair. 

Governor Johanns provided the keynote address at the nation's largest annual ethanol conference in Las Vegas. Speaking at the Renewable Fuels Association's Ethanol Policy and Marketing Conference on February 19, Governor Johanns focused on ethanol's near-term prospects for solving the nation's energy needs.  "It is essential that ethanol be an integral part of any new national energy policy," Johanns said. "Our goal for 2001 is to work with and encourage the Bush Administration and Congress to pass a new law that expands the use of fuels blended with ethanol and phases out use of the harmful chemical MTBE in reformulated gasoline."