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Groups urge Senate to oppose anti-ethanol measures

Seven farm and ethanol groups have sent a letter to all senators urging them to defeat “any efforts that would damage the American ethanol industry’s growth,” Growth Energy, an ethanol lobbying group announced today.

The groups urged the Senate, when it takes up a continuing resolution to fund the government for the rest of fiscal year 2011, to oppose the anti-ethanol amendments that the House included in its resolution.

Those amendments would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from implementing the approval of E15 for cars, pickups and SUVs made since model year 2001 and prevent federal agencies from using federal funds for directly or indirectly supporting the installation of ethanol infrastructure such as blender pumps.

“American ethanol is uniquely positioned to help America achieve energy independence,” the groups wrote. “Domestic ethanol production has been and is currently a major force in the revitalization of rural America by helping to create green jobs and by stimulating economic activity in rural communities.

The groups that signed the letter were the American Coalition for Ethanol, the American Farm Bureau Federation, Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Corn Growers Association, the National Farmers Union and the National Sorghum Producers.