Could Pipelines Move Ethanol From Iowa to Major Markets?

Iowa Congressmen Leonard Boswell has introduced bipartisan legislation to increase the availability of alternative fuels at gasoline stations across the country. The legislation calls for funding a study to find out whether underground pipelines would be a good way to transport ethanol and biodiesel.

Boswell, a Democrat who represents central Iowa, explained the legislation at a press conference May 29 at Magellan Pipeline Company in Pleasant Hill, on the southeast side of Des Moines.



Joining Boswell and speaking at the press conference were Jamie Cashman, with Iowa Governor Chet Culver’s office, Monte Shaw with the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and Bruce Heine, director of government and media affairs for Magellan Midstream Partners. Also, Jim Meyer, a farmer from Odebolt, spoke on behalf of the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

Is this a pipedream or is it practical?

The Ethanol Infrastructure Expansion Act, H.R. 2426, would direct the U.S. Secretary of Energy to fund studies on the feasibility of constructing a dedicated ethanol pipeline and to study the technical factors that prevent the transportation of ethanol in existing pipelines.

Wallaces Farmer