U.S. ag secretary says ethanol holding gas prices in check

GoErie.com
Updated: March 14, 2012 12:32 AM EST
By JIM MARTIN, Erie Times-News

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack knows gas prices are high.

His wife reminded him just how high recently after she paid more than $90 to fill their midsize car in Washington, D.C., where gas sells for more than $5 a gallon.

But Vilsack, a Pittsburgh native, said prices could be a lot worse.

In an interview with the Erie Times-News, Vilsack said Tuesday that ethanol and other biofuels are helping to hold prices at the pump in check.

"If we did not have a biofuel industry, we would probably be looking at 80 cents to $1.30 higher than today," he said.

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