WPTZ: 'Welch Wants Ethanol Money Out'
Congressman Peter Welch joined others on a marina in Mallets Bay to talk about problems with ethanol gas, saying federal subsidies to the industry should be halted.
Welch said ethanol and blended gasoline was harmful to small engines, causing them to corrode if left unused for too long.
"I was hearing from everyday Vermonters about the damage ethanol in gas was doing to their small equipment," Welch said.
Marina workers backed Welch up, saying they dealt with corroded boat engines often, given the long off-season with gas sitting in tanks.
"It's been pretty tough on the marine engines and I think we should do away with (ethanol blends)," Moorings Marina manager Sean Gowland said.
Welch joined with Republicans in calls to cut the $6 billion in taxpayer subsidies given to the ethanol industry annually.
Supporters of subsidies have said they help the economy and targeting the ethanol industry is unfair among the many other energy industry players.