Harkin not sure yet about energy bill

A vote may come in the U.S. Senate as soon as tomorrow on the massive Energy Bill though Iowa Senator Tom Harkin says he’s still undecided on the thick piece of legislation. Harkin says he’s still being briefed and hasn’t yet determined if he’ll vote for or against the Energy Bill. It would require the use of five-billion gallons of ethanol by 2012 — doubling the amount of that corn-based fuel now being consumed. The bill would also provide tax breaks for producers of biodiesel, which is made from soybeans. Harkin, a Democrat, says the bill swings both directions.He says there are good and bad things in the bill. He says the good items include: renewable energy benefits for energy ethanol, biodiesel, wind and geothermal, but he says “troubling” aspects include big subsidies for coal and oil and nuclear powers and weakening environmental standards. Iowa’s other U.S. Senator, Republican Chuck Grassley, says he’ll support the Energy Bill.