JACKSON, Tenn. — Tennessee farmers will jump at the chance to grow more corn for expanded use of ethanol in gasoline, a University of Tennessee crop specialist said Wednesday.

“The Tennessee Corn Growers Association has pushed this and on some Saturdays has worked at service stations that sell gasahol,” UT’s Wayne Flinchum said.

The Environmental Protection Agency opened the way Monday for expanded use of ethanol, or gasahol, a gasoline additive made from corn.

EPA Administrator Carol Browner said use of ethanol during summer months will result in cleaner-burning gasoline in big cities with the worst smog problems, such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Under the new rule, ethanol marketers can continue to use the standard 10 percent ethanol blend instead of reducing the blend to contain only 7.7 percent ethanol.

“Corn seems to be a product with ever-increasing uses,” Flinchum said. “They’re using corn to make de-icers for roads and airplanes.”

Auto pollution could be reduced substantially if motorists started using gasoline with 20 percent ethanol, Flinchum said.

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Contact: Wayne Flinchum (901-525-4721)

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