Vt. US Rep. proposes to reform ethanol law

COLCHESTER, Vt. (AP) -- Vermont's lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives is going to be working with a bipartisan group of his colleagues to reform a federal law that requires corn-based ethanol in motor vehicle fuels.

U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, a Democrat, argues the requirement that ethanol, which is made from corn, drove up the price of corn and increased the costs for Vermont dairy farmers.

And he argues ethanol can harm some small engines.

He says the mandate was well intentioned, but it had unintended consequences that hurts dairy farmers and the motors used on boats, chain saws and snowmobiles across Vermont.

Welch's proposal would repeal the mandate on corn ethanol production. It would also prevent the federal government from increasing the requirement on the amount of ethanol blended into gasoline.