DES MOINES – The Legislature this week will take the first steps toward creating incentives to increase the use of ethanol.

Senate Republican Leader Jeff Lamberti, of Ankeny, said lawmakers will move quickly on efforts to boost ethanol use, focusing on a fuel mixture known as E-85, which contains 85 percent ethanol.

“The future of ethanol is E-85,” said Lamberti. “This is the year we want to take the industry to the next level.”

There are roughly 100,000 vehicles in Iowa that can run on E-85, but only a couple of dozen filling stations that sell the fuel blend. To expand sales, stations would have to install expensive new tanks and pumps.

The plan to be debated in the Senate would set aside $5 million to help pay for those installations. Supporters say that will boost sales, giving manufacturers incentive to build more cars that run on E-85.

Senate Democratic Leader Jack Kibbie, of Emmetsburg, will push his plan to require that all gasoline sold in Iowa be blended with 10 percent ethanol.

Critics say that wouldn’t increase ethanol consumption that much. More than 70 percent of the gasoline sold in Iowa already is an ethanol blend.

In addition, lawmakers plan to launch hearings this week on TouchPlay lottery machines, which look just like slot machines. Critics say players can’t tell the machines apart.

Lottery officials say lawmakers specifically approved the machines in 2002. Lamberti said lawmakers want a detailed explanation.

The issue is tough for the Legislature because the machines are projected to bring in $45 million in profits next year.