Poised for an ethanol boom

Thursday, June 08, 2006

A story by Nathan Leaf in the Wisconsin State Journal reports:

Despite a recent setback in the state Legislature, Wisconsin's ethanol production continues to increase as local investors and farmers attempt to get in on a nationwide boom for the fuel.

A bill that would have required regular gasoline sold in Wisconsin to contain 10 percent ethanol was killed in the Senate this spring.

But with four Wisconsin ethanol plants already operating, two under construction and several other pending proposals, state officials expect production to more than double by 2007. And last month, state lawmakers discussed a bill that would temporarily roll back taxes on E-85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, to spur use of the fuel.