(April 27, 2010)  Washington – America’s ethanol industry is taking its message to Capitol Hill this week amid a host of key issues bubbling to the surface. Extending key tax incentives for all forms of ethanol, expanding the market through higher ethanol blends, and increasing the production of flexible fuel vehicles are all topics of discussion during the visit.

This week, members of the Renewable Fuels Association are currently scheduled to meet with Congressional offices from a dozen states including Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Illinois, Nebraska, and Iowa.

“No one advocates better on behalf of American ethanol then the men and women directly responsible for its production,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “These industry leaders are at the forefront of creating jobs and economic opportunity in rural America while simultaneously providing part of the solution to our nation’s energy and environmental challenges.”

These Hill meetings come as President Barack Obama is touring the Midwest, refreshing his understanding of the importance of ethanol and biofuels to rural America. According to a document released by the White House Council of Economic Advisory on April 26, the growth of American biofuels accompanying the demand created by the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) will add $13 billion to farm incomes by 2022. The RFS calls for 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel use annually by 2022, with nearly 60% of that volume coming from feedstocks other corn starch.

Additionally, the perils of America’s addiction to oil are sadly on display with the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico. America’s ethanol industry sends its thoughts and prayers to the families of those lost, and hopes that their memories are honored by a recommitment to finding renewable alternatives to petroleum.  Currently, 42,000 gallons of oil are spilling into Gulf waters per day, creating a slick more than 1,800 square miles. A similar sized area planted in corn would yield more than 530 million gallons of ethanol and 1.47 million metric tons of livestock feed.

Most pressingly, these industry leaders will be urging support and passage of legislation that would extend key ethanol tax policies. Bills HR 4940 in the House and S. 3231 in the Senate would extend the 45 cent per gallon Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) and the offsetting tariff on foreign ethanol, the Small Producers Tax Credit, and the Cellulosic Ethanol Producer Tax Credit through 2015. Both VEETC and the offsetting tariff are set to expire at the end of 2010.

For more on this legislation, click here.