North Carolina - June 4
A Strong Legislative Involvement

"Ethanol Driving North Carolina' Energy, Economic and Environmental Future"

The North Carolina Ethanol Workshop, held June 4^th in Raleigh, benefited from the strong participation of state agencies and legislators. Following a morning of presentations by experts who provided an overview of the significance of ethanol production and use, representatives of state agencies explained their perspectives on the idea of developing an ethanol industry in the state. Ralph Groschen, who helped develop the nationally recognized Minnesota Model, then explained how situations in the two states may be different, yet there are similarities that could be utilized by North Carolina as they begin to develop their own program. The final session was an outstanding panel consisting of state legislators who made very supportive statements.

Representative Joe Tolson, Vice Chair, Energy Policy Council and Co-Chair, House, Science & Technology Committee stated, "I want to move the effort to develop the production and use of renewable energy forward in North Carolina." Representative Pryor Gibson, Chair, House Environment & Natural Resources Committee said, "The days of energy policy being shaped by energy policy alone are over. Energy policy must now be sensitive to environmental, agricultural and economic betterment as well." Senator Hamilton Horton, Jr., Member, Energy Policy Council and Member, Senate Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resource Committee observed, "We have 16,000 school buses in the state…why aren’t they running on ethanol?" Senator Ellie Kinnaird, Member, Energy Policy Council and Member, Senate Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resource Committee: "We need to start thinking out of the box when it comes to our energy policy. The nudge for ethanol in my opinion is clean air."

The legislative session really set the tone for the continuance of the effort in NC to promote the use of ethanol. The determination of all parties involved strongly indicates that something will happen as a result of this workshop.

EWS News is published by Bryan & Bryan Inc. (BBI), Cotopaxi, Colorado. Kathy Bryan, Ph: 719-942-4353, Email: kathy@bbiethanol.com, website: www.bbiethanol.com.

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