What Is The Connection Between HB 2210 And Pacific Ethanol?

HB 2210 had a very peculiar "trigger" clause in Section 17:

SECTION 17. { + (1) The State Department of Agriculture shall study and monitor ethanol fuel production, use and sales in this
state.
(2) When capacity of ethanol production facilities in Oregon reaches a level of at least 40 million gallons, the department
shall notify all retail dealers, nonretail dealers and wholesale dealers in this state, in a notice that meets the requirements of
subsection (3) of this section.

What is the significance of the production of 40 million gallons of ethanol per year? Why just 40 million? It will take a production rate of at least 150 million gallons of ethanol per year to meet the needs of gasoline production in Oregon.

Maybe this is the answer. On or about October 7, 2007 a new corn ethanol plant went into production in Boardman, Oregon. Here was the announcement in the Seattle Times. Here is a YouTube video of Governor Kulongoski getting the grand tour. What is the production capacity of the plant, you ask? What a coincidence: 40 million gallons of ethanol / yr.

Who built the plant? Pacific Ethanol.

Who is Pacific Ethanol? You should look into that. Google "pacific ethanol". You might be surprised. The listings go on and on for this politically very well connected company. And this is an interesting article about Pacific Ethanol. Here is another one. Getting the picture yet?

Who invests in Pacific Ethanol? You might be surprised. Remember, Washington has passed a similar mandatory ethanol bill, with some exceptions, but it won't go into effect until late 2008. But then, maybe it wasn't such a good investment after all.

I urge you to call, email or write your legislators and ask them to repeal this law.