CONGRESSWOMAN CANDICE MILLER
by Congresswoman Candice S. Miller

Steep gasoline prices are in the heart and minds of all American consumers these days. With the looming prospect that prices will continue to rise, coupled with the threat posed by a foreign-controlled energy supply, the need for our nation to create new sources of alternative fuel is obvious.

One of these potential new sources is Ethanol: a high-octane alternative fuel that is made from corn. In recent months, I have been working hard to support the construction of a major, new fuel ethanol plant in the community of Marysville. This plant is designed to produce 50 million gallons of ethanol each year. The plant will purchase approximately 40 million dollars worth of corn annually from predominately local growers. The ethanol produced at the Marysville plant will be used as an additive to gasoline, reducing not only our reliance on imported gasoline, but greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles as well.

The Marysville plant is also expected to employ hundreds of workers during its construction, with dozens more permanent jobs once the plant is fully operating. The ethanol plant will be located near the center of the current 230-acre Marysville Hydrocarbon's industrial complex.

Simply put - we haven't made enough gasoline for ourselves for years. Even though demand is quickly rising, there has not been a single new refinery built in America since 1976. The thinning line of Gulf Coast refineries is what stands between us and independence on foreign supplies.

All of this vulnerability was exposed by two monster hurricanes this year, highlighting the need to support alternative fuels, as well as the need to build our fuel sources far away from the threat of hurricanes.

Four billion gallons of Ethanol will be produced in America within the next few years as plants continue to spring up around the country, including in the 10th district of Michigan.

I'm looking forward to the completion of the Marysville ethanol plant. It will help create jobs, create fuel and create an opportunity to reduce our reliance on foreign oil.

If you wish to contact Congresswoman Miller you may reach her in Washington, D.C. at 228 Cannon Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; Phone: 202-225-2106; Fax: 202-226-1169. You may also reach her in Michigan at Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township, MI 48317; Phone: 586-997-5010; Fax: 586-997-5013.