Citing ethanol's already heavy subsidies, Senate power brokers John Breaux of Louisiana and John McCain of Arizona are formidable opponents. Yet the ethanol lobby is confident, listing Senators Bob Smith, head of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Democratic leader Tom Daschle as allies. The biggest hurdle is likely to be fears that imposing ethanol on the fuel industry could increase prices at the pumps. Bill Bush of the American Petroleum Institute, which lobbies for the oil companies, says that the 2 per cent requirement is too rigid. There are other ways of making clean-burning fuels.
Some scientists agree.
Ethanol's supporters counter that oxygenates are essential for maintaining good engine performance, and that maize farmers depend on the market. Industry sources predict that the ethanol industry will continue to grow slowly even if left to itself.