Ethanol use hits all-time high in Iowa

Efforts to mandate the use of ethanol-blended gasoline have thus far failed in Iowa — but the efforts may have helped spur ethanol sales. Iowa Corn Growers Association spokesperson, Lucy Norton, says 70-million gallons of gas mixed with the corn-based ethanol were sold in August.She says ethanol-blended fuel made up 52-percent of all gas sold in Iowa — an all-time high. Norton says ethanol sales were nearly six million gallons more than non-ethanol gas in August. She says the increase is part of a protest as people speak out against rising oil prices and cast a vote for renewable energy.Norton says the debate over making ethanol use mandatory in Iowa, along with other education efforts, have increased awareness of the fuel and its benefits.Norton says a renewable resource like ethanol is more important than ever in today’s world.While both presidential candidates have talked about renewable energy sources, neither Democrat Al Gore or Republican George W. Bush has specifically mentioned ethanol in the recent debates. Norton says they’d like to hear more about ethanol from the candidates.Norton says increasing the use of ethanol in Iowa and the rest of the United States will help farmers ease the growing piles of corn brought in by the fall harvest.