A state representative from Tama is offering a plan he contends willincrease the sale of ethanol-blended gasoline — without a mandate. The statelegislature failed to institute an ethanol mandate and Iowa AgricultureSecretary Patty Judge has asked the Attorney General if she has the power todo so. Representative Lance Horbach says he would use the current one-centstate tax credit to increase the sale of corn-based ethonal by requiringretailers to sell ethanol for a penny less than other gasoline.Horbach, a republican from Tama, says retailers now get the one-cent creditwith no incentive to sell more ethanol. Horbach says he’s offering analternative to the mandate. Horbach believes his plan would increase the use of ethanol and thusincrease the value of corn produced by Iowa farmers.Horbach believes his plan would increase the market share of ethanol from 40to 80 percent. Horbach hopes a legislative committee studying the issue willincorporate his plan into the recommendations it makes to the nextlegislature.
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