Expanded biomass fuel use seen from MTBE ruling

July 30,1999

The Senate Agriculture Committee has approved a bill that proponents believe will lead to more biomass fuel production to pull up the expected slack from the phase-out of MTBE. Conservation Reserve Program acreage also could be used for harvesting biomass products.

Committee Chairman Richard Lugar (R-IN) believes the recommendation this week from an Environmental Protection Agency panel to phase out MTBE use "will lead to substantially greater demand for ethanol." The bill passed by the committee "holds the promise of meeting clean fuel demands by bringing to the market a competitively priced alternative fuel by 2005," he added.

The bill creates a research initiative focused on producing fuels and chemicals from a variety of plants, trees, grasses and agricultural residues. The bill also would authorize $49 million a year for six years to develop alternative fuels.

An amendment from Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) was included that would allow harvesting of switchgrass and other biomass on land in the CRP for use in generating energy sources. "Biomass has the potential to provide billions in additional income to farm families, boost domestic energy supplies and still protect our environment," said Harkin.

The amendment would allow vegetation to be grown and harvested on CRP land for use as biomass energy sources. Harvesting would be allowed only under conditions that would protect soil and wildlife. Biomass produces include switchgrass, hybrid willow and hybrid poplar. USDA and the Energy Department have projected $2.3-5.5 billion in additional net farm income from biomass products.