MTBE - A Bad Solution For a Bad Problem.

By Judy Muller
ABC NEWS

L O S A N G E L E S, Cal., March 22 — The gasoline additive known as MTBE was supposed to reduce air pollution. Instead, it resulted in water pollution. 

A 31-state study published today in the journal Environmental Science and Technology says as many as one-third of the nation’s drinking water wells may be contaminated with MTBE. 

Now the Clinton Administration wants to replace MTBE with yet another controversial additive.
“It is imperative that we eliminate or significantly reduce the fuel additive MTBE from gasoline,” says Carol Browner of the EPA, “and boost the use of safe alternatives like ethanol.”

Ethanol is made from corn. Farmers in corn-growing states are understandably delighted with the administration’s proposal.

“We’re saying we can produce the corn and it will help our agricultural economy,” says Leon Corzine, president of Illinois Corn Growers Association. “[And] it will help the U.S. economy.” 
Not to the Benefit of Consumer.

But it won’t help states like California. Since the ethanol would have to be imported from the Midwest, motorists here could end up paying seven cents more a gallon.

“You cannot tell the consumers and the environment in California that a monopoly from the Midwest is going to be beneficial for the environment or for the rate payers,” says Brian Bilbray, San Diego congressman. 

If ethanol is not required to create cleaner gas, then why is it so popular with Washington? Ethanol critics point to the powerful lobbying influence of Archer Daniels Midland, which controls 50 percent of the ethanol business and donates millions to political campaigns. 

Nonsense, say ethanol advocates.

“I have not spoken to anyone from ADM in I don’t know how many years regarding ethanol,” says Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). “In fact, I do know from the figures that ADM’s share of ethanol production is coming down. 

Congress must soon decide to amend the clean air act to require ethanol in gasoline. They might want to consider a recent study by the National Academy of Sciences. It concluded that neither MTBE, nor ethanol, did much to reduce ozone pollution.