(March 30, 2011)  Washington – Following up on a letter sent to President Obama yesterday urging him to reaffirm his support for domestic ethanol production, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) released the following statement in advance of the President’s speech.

RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen:

“We are encouraged by President Obama’s recognition of the important role domestic biofuels must play in America’s energy future. When it comes to replacing imported oil, no other energy technology can match ethanol today. The productivity of American farmers is allowing us to replace 10 percent of the nation’s gasoline demand with cleaner-burning ethanol today and new technologies and increased productivity will allow for even greater replacement of petroleum-based fuels in the future.

“America’s ethanol industry stands ready to work with the Obama Administration and Congress to transform current biofuel policies to reflect the evolving nature of the industry and the fiscal concerns voiced by many on Capitol Hill. That means we must think outside the box when it comes to incentivizing the use of ethanol, expanding the market for ethanol, and accelerating the commercialization of advanced ethanol technologies.

“America’s ethanol industry has always risen to meet the challenges put before it. We stand ready to yet again rise up to meet the challenges put forth by President Obama. In order to achieve the President’s goals, we must ignore the crocodile tears of many ethanol critics and those from the oil patch. Efforts to slow, stall, and squash the continued growth and innovation in American ethanol production, like those offered by Sen. Tom Coburn, must not be allowed to succeed. Those efforts only lead to higher prices at the pump and bigger bank accounts for OPEC.”