Hawaii enters national debate over future of ethanol in gas
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FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2015 file photo, corn is delivered to the Green Plains ethanol plant in Shenandoah, Iowa. Hawaii is poised to end a mandate that fuel for automobiles must be mixed with 10 percent ethanol, and it could become the second state to do so. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/e399520d4b864df6bf5bff9001f1a6ce/hawaii-enters-national-debate-over-future-ethanol-gas
By CATHY BUSSEWITZ May. 6, 2015 8:45 PM EDT
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii lawmakers have put the state at the front of a national discussion over the future of ethanol in gasoline by passing a bill that puts an end to a requirement that the corn-based additive be mixed into fuel sold in the state.
The move comes as Congress faces pressure to review a federal mandate that calls for ethanol and other renewables in the nation's fuel supply.
Hawaii has required a 10 percent ethanol blend in its gas since 2006. The order was intended to support alternative energy and boost local agriculture.
Opponents, however, say those benefits haven't come, since Hawaii has been importing blended fuel. "Hawaii embarked on a grand experiment to figure out if we can help establish a local renewable ethanol industry, producing ethanol from locally grown feed stocks," Rep. Chris Lee said. "Unfortunately, it just never materialized."
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