Thomas Daschle: “First of all, with regard to ethanol utilization, the State of California is currently using ethanol in 65 percent of…”

“First of all, with regard to ethanol utilization, the State of California is currently using ethanol in 65 percent of all the fuel it is marketing within the State. That is expected to go up to 80 percent this summer. The Department of Energy in California has said there has been absolutely no difficulty in the integration of ethanol from a transportation point of view, a storage point of view, an environmental point of view, or a cost point of view. So that would be first. Why have a waiver when there is no problem? The problem does not exist. In fact, studies have shown--that I pointed out this morning, one by the Department of Energy Information, one by the Department of Energy in California--that have said there is absolutely no connection between increases in the price paid for gasoline and the use of ethanol. So from a cost point of view in particular, there certainly isn't any need for a waiver.”