Ethanol groups criticize Feinstein-Toomey-Flake ethanol repeal amendment
January 20, 2015 |06:00 AM
Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., last week introduced an amendment to the Keystone pipeline bill to repeal the corn ethanol mandate, but pro-ethanol groups called the amendment a rehash of previously introduced and failed legislation.
Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., is also a co-sponsor of the Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2015, Feinstein noted in a news release.
The Feinstein-Toomey amendment abolishes the corn ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), but would leave in place the mandate for other renewable fuels.
“The federal mandate for corn ethanol is both unwise and unworkable,” Feinstein said in the news release.
“Roughly 40 percent of corn in the United States is currently used for fuel, which increases the price of food and animal feed while also damaging the environment,” she said. “Additionally, oil companies are unable to blend more corn ethanol into gasoline without causing problems for some gas stations and older automobiles.”
“This bill is a simple and smart modification of the Renewable Fuel Standard program. Once we remove the corn ethanol mandate, the RFS program can finally serve its intended purpose: to support the development of advanced, environmentally friendly biofuels like biodiesel, cellulosic ethanol and other revolutionary fuels,” Feinstein continued.
“Once again, this is the government using corporate welfare to shower money on a favored industry and then send the bill to the general public,” Toomey said in the joint release. “Labor leaders, businesses, and environmental groups have lined up to push back against this harmful regulatory regime.”
Ethanol groups were critical.
“This legislation is incredibly shortsighted,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis.
“Nearly identical legislation has been introduced in the past and has always failed to gain any traction since a majority of senators understand the importance of homegrown American renewable fuels,” Buis said.
“This amendment would eviscerate the RFS — the most successful energy policy enacted in the last 40 years. It will continue to keep us addicted to foreign oil and more than anything, it seems like this legislation is appeasing the wishes of Big Oil and Big Food."
“Additionally, this legislation is based on false, misleading information,” Buis said.
“To blame ethanol for an increase in the price of food may make for good rhetoric, but it is completely devoid of any facts to back it up. Corn ethanol is not the cause of high prices; it is the price of oil.”
“The authors of this legislation fail to understand the actual process of how ethanol is produced,” Buis added. “Only the starch is removed, while all of the valuable components — the fiber, oil and protein is returned to the food chain in the form of a high protein animal feed."
“The Feinstein/Toomey amendment is founded upon a false premise,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen.
“The sponsors claim the so-called corn ethanol mandate drives up the price of corn, food, and gas. The fact of the matter is that corn is less expensive today than when the RFS was passed in 2007.”
Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., is also a co-sponsor of the Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2015, Feinstein noted in a news release.
The Feinstein-Toomey amendment abolishes the corn ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), but would leave in place the mandate for other renewable fuels.
“The federal mandate for corn ethanol is both unwise and unworkable,” Feinstein said in the news release.
“Roughly 40 percent of corn in the United States is currently used for fuel, which increases the price of food and animal feed while also damaging the environment,” she said. “Additionally, oil companies are unable to blend more corn ethanol into gasoline without causing problems for some gas stations and older automobiles.”
“This bill is a simple and smart modification of the Renewable Fuel Standard program. Once we remove the corn ethanol mandate, the RFS program can finally serve its intended purpose: to support the development of advanced, environmentally friendly biofuels like biodiesel, cellulosic ethanol and other revolutionary fuels,” Feinstein continued.
“Once again, this is the government using corporate welfare to shower money on a favored industry and then send the bill to the general public,” Toomey said in the joint release. “Labor leaders, businesses, and environmental groups have lined up to push back against this harmful regulatory regime.”
Ethanol groups were critical.
“This legislation is incredibly shortsighted,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis.
“Nearly identical legislation has been introduced in the past and has always failed to gain any traction since a majority of senators understand the importance of homegrown American renewable fuels,” Buis said.
“This amendment would eviscerate the RFS — the most successful energy policy enacted in the last 40 years. It will continue to keep us addicted to foreign oil and more than anything, it seems like this legislation is appeasing the wishes of Big Oil and Big Food."
“Additionally, this legislation is based on false, misleading information,” Buis said.
“To blame ethanol for an increase in the price of food may make for good rhetoric, but it is completely devoid of any facts to back it up. Corn ethanol is not the cause of high prices; it is the price of oil.”
“The authors of this legislation fail to understand the actual process of how ethanol is produced,” Buis added. “Only the starch is removed, while all of the valuable components — the fiber, oil and protein is returned to the food chain in the form of a high protein animal feed."
“The Feinstein/Toomey amendment is founded upon a false premise,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen.
“The sponsors claim the so-called corn ethanol mandate drives up the price of corn, food, and gas. The fact of the matter is that corn is less expensive today than when the RFS was passed in 2007.”
