US debt deal: biofuels industry reaction

August 2, 2011 |

Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of the American Coalition for Ethanol

“ACE and our members are disappointed that the ethanol compromise was not included in the final debt limit deal just because some in Congress insisted that revenue-generating measures were sacred cows.  This was truly a missed opportunity.  We sincerely appreciate the efforts undertaken by Senators Thune (R-SD) and Klobuchar (D-MN) on reforming the tax credit and looking for a bipartisan solution in a difficult fiscal time.  ACE will be working to help resurrect this reform effort which returns a billion dollars to the Treasury for deficit reduction, helps fund infrastructure, and supports the commercialization of cellulosic ethanol.”

“By disregarding reform of the ethanol tax credit as part of this deal, consumers and the American biofuels industry have been shortchanged.  It remains frustrating that some elected officials are continuing to protect billions in subsidies for the oil industry, while dismissing efforts to improve consumer choice at the pump.  We will continue to work with the Administration and the Congress on the unfinished priorities that are facing the ethanol industry.”

Wes Bolsen, CMO, Coskata

“Congress’s failure to embrace bipartisan support for eliminating the ethanol blender’s tax credit and enabling the future of cellulosic ethanol production is truly a missed opportunity, particularly when you weigh in the economic benefits cellulosic ethanol can provide, including job creation, rural development, and decreasing our trade deficit,” said Wes Bolsen, chief marketing officer and vice president of government affairs for Coskata, Inc.  “After making progress with the Thune-Klobuchar-Feinstein agreement, we find the industry back at square one:  ready to make a difference but still waiting for predictable and enduring government policy that is greatly needed in order to commercialize.”

Category: Policy

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