(March 8, 2012) Washington – In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the Advanced Ethanol Council voiced support for an amendment to the pending transportation bill that would extend key cellulosic ethanol tax provisions set to expire at the end of 2012.

The amendment (#1812) is being offered by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and would extend the Cellulosic Biofuels Producer Tax Credit (PTC) and the Accelerated Depreciation Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Property through 2013.

Previously, CEOs of leading advanced and cellulosic biofuel companies voiced their support for continuing these important provisions.  That letter can be read here.

The full letter to Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell from AEC Executive Director Brooke Coleman is as follows:

March 8, 2012

Dear Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell:

On behalf of the advanced and cellulosic ethanol industry, the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) is writing to voice our support for the Stabenow amendment (#1812) to the pending transportation bill. The Stabenow amendment includes the extension of two critical tax incentives for the advanced and cellulosic ethanol industry -- the Cellulosic Biofuels Producer Tax Credit (PTC) and the Accelerated Depreciation Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Property. Both are vital to the ongoing development of the domestic advanced and cellulosic ethanol industry.

The U.S renewable fuels industry is already an American success story. The advanced and cellulosic biofuels industry is now in the process of building new plants, helping drive innovation at existing production facilities with emerging technologies, and introducing new product streams that will allow the renewable fuels sector to become more profitable, diversified and efficient. Over the last several years, the advanced ethanol industry has vastly increased the efficiency and reduced the cost of producing ethanol from new sources of biomass – including but not limited to municipal solid waste, agricultural waste, energy crops and grasses, and sustainably harvested wood resources.

With gas prices soaring, it is increasingly important to diversify U.S. motor fuel markets with viable and competitive alternatives to gasoline, such as advanced ethanol, that will offer American consumers a choice at the gas pump.

Several billion dollars have been invested in the development of advanced biofuels with the expectation that Congress will stay the course with regard to its commitment to the industry. The PTC and accelerated depreciation allowance provide investment certainty in a high‐risk marketplace largely supply‐ and price‐controlled by OPEC. A tax increase on advanced biofuels at this time would curtail investment by creating uncertainty for the industry and undercut an industry just starting to close deals and break ground on its first commercial plants. Further, allowing the PTC and accelerated depreciation allowance to expire runs counter to the goals set forth by Congress to foster the development of advanced biofuels under the RFS.

To protect our nation’s energy interests, we ask that you support the Stabenow amendment (#1812) to extend the cellulosic PTC and the accelerated depreciation allowance.

Sincerely,

R. Brooke Coleman
Executive Director
Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC)

The executive members of the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) include:  Abengoa BioEnergy, Beta Renewables, BlueFire Renewables, Coskata, Enerkem, Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inbicon, Iogen, Mascoma, Osage BioEnergy, Qteros and ZeaChem