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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 20, 2000)
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Emerald 346-5511 Accusations fuel frustration By Martha Irvine The Associated Press CHICAGO — Oil and ethanol in dustry executives blamed each oth er for rising gas prices Monday at a congressional hearing designed to examine why drivers are paying more than $2 a gallon in cities such as Chicago and Milwaukee. Few left the special hearing convened by Illinois Democrats with much hope for a resolution. “I think this could be a serious situation throughout the sum mer,” said Eric Vaughn, president of the Renewable Fuels Associa tion, a Washington-based group representing ethanol producers. One oil industry spokesman blamed higher local taxes, noting that Chicagoans are paying more than 50 cents in total taxes per gal lon. He also said new mandates to use reformulated gas with ethanol in Chicago and Milwaukee have contributed to the price jump. Ethanol, made from corn and subsidized by a federal tax break, burns cleaner than other fuels. “I’m not knocking ethanol. It’s a good product,” said David Sykuta, executive director of the Illinois Petroleum Council. “But it’s a logistical nightmare to han dle this stuff.” For example, he said, gas with ethanol must be transported by truck or train because it damages pipelines. Meanwhile, only about half of the six refineries in Illinois have been retooled to make gas with ethanol, he said. In a separate briefing in New York, American Petroleum Insti tute president Red Cavaney cited “six or seven different variables” for the higher Midwest prices — everything from ethanol to the in crease of crude prices to above $30 a barrel to pipelines that have been out of commission. But members of the congression al panel, the Environmental Protec tion Agency and a spokesman for the ethanol industry disputed the explanations. Panel members said the indus try should be charging no more than an additional 8 cents a gallon for gas that has ethanol in it in stead of MTBE, a controversial ad ditive used in most states that some environmentalists believe contaminates water supplies. Illinois, the nation’s biggest ethanol producer, is one of the few states that requires its use as a gas additive. Minnesota, where prices have not exceeded the $2 a-gallon mark, is another. “I think the oil companies are punishing and gouging us for us ing ethanol,” said Rep. Jan Schakowsky, one of four Illinois Democrats who made up the Con gressional panel. “It’s the only reason I can come up with to ex plain why Chicago and Milwau kee are paying 40 cents more a gallon than everyone else.” The meeting came just two days before ministers from the Or ganization of Petroleum Export ing Countries are scheduled to meet to discuss raising produc tion by about 500,000 barrels a day — or about 2 percent of the countries’ total production. But analysts have suggested that even if the increase is ap proved, it could be several weeks before enough oil is produced to help lower gas prices. Rep. Luis Gutierrez said he would ask Attorney General Janet Reno to look for any signs of price-fixing in the oil industry. The Federal Trade Commission is already investigating. Cavaney, of the American Petro leum Institute, defended the in dustry, saying it was being blamed as a scapegoat even though no proof existed of the companies’ al leged price manipulation. Arrests continued from page 1A Schoonmaker walked away from the jail shirtless. Sunday afternoon’s rally was mostly peaceful, with speakers using a bullhorn to address the crowd about their beliefs or some times just to rant and yell obsceni ties. Hundreds of people milled about, either1 listening to the speeches or talking amongst themselves. Once a punk band wrapped up its set, a group of about 100 peo ple moved the rally to the Satur day Market area at Eighth Avenue and Oak Street. There they played several games of Red Rover in the middle of the street before police in riot gear ordered them to leave the area. When the protesters stood their ground, police moved in and be gan making arrests, firing bean bag rounds at the dispersing groups. The police brigade then began cordoning off streets and pushing the protesters out of the area. Arrest figures for Sunday night were in the mid-20s, and the most common charges were disorderly conduct and interfering with a peace officer. A strong number of police — estimated at 100 to 150 — swept into the Washington-Jef ferson Bridge area on bikes, in vans, in patrol cars and on foot. One of the neutral observers at Sunday’s afternoon rally in the park was told by police officers that he would have to leave the area as they began their Sunday night actions. “I think the anarchist folks are a little frightening; they’re scary to the community,” John Buffalo said. “But I think that no matter what they did ... which they did n’t really do anything ... Nothing could have brought on this; this is overkill to the max.” The majority of the weekend’s arrests came Friday night follow ing a gathering at Prince Lucien Campbell Hall on campus, where approximately 300 punks, anar Slide into Mr. Cleanjeans this Summa#J£?|hl3 7 and win Eugene Emerald tickets Drawings are held weekly during the season Check out our early bird wash special $.75 Mondays thru Fridays 7am - 11 am • Close to campus • Clean • Handicap Accessible Machines • Serving the Area for 24 years 240 E. 17th (between High & Pearl) chists and other citizens attended a video premiere of “Breaking the Spell.” The video, made by Eu gene resident Tim Lewis, is a compilation of footage from last December’s World Trade Organi zation protests in Seattle. A large part of the contingent then made its way to the Lane County Jail, where police con fronted the crowd and began mak ing arrests. All observers and news media were kept at bay while the arrests were being made. Included in the total number of arrests were two suspects in a ve hicle fire at the Joe Romania car dealership at Franklin Boulevard and Walnut Street. After police received a 911 call at 1:04 a.m. Friday, they respond ed and stopped Jeffrey Michael Luers, 21, and Craig Andrew Mar shall, 27, who were observed driving in the area. The men were eventually arrested and charged with first-degree criminal mis chief and first-degree arson. LOW Student Airfares Europe* Africa Asia*South America More Than 100 Departure Cities! Eurailpasses Bus Passes Study Abroad sludenr • universe •com IT’S YOUR WORLD. EXPLORE IT. StudentUniverse.com 800-272-9676
