The Renewable Fuels Association today praised the Renewable Fuels Reinvestment Act (RFRA) introduced by Representatives Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) and John Shimkus (R-IL). The bill would extend the $0.45 Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC), commonly called the blenders’ credit, and the secondary tariff on imported ethanol until December 31, 2015. It would also extend the Small Producers Tax Credit and the Cellulosic Ethanol Production Tax Credit to January 1, 2016.

“Passage of the RFRA will provide investors with the long term stability needed to bring next generation technologies to commercialization. Likewise, it allows current ethanol producers to invest with confidence in new efficiencies to further improve upon ethanol’s economic and environmental benefits,” said Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen. “Representatives Pomeroy, Shimkus and their fellow cosponsors are showing tremendous leadership and foresight. I urge all members of Congress to take this opportunity to learn the real facts about American ethanol production and, ultimately, pass this bill as soon as possible.”

Last week, the RFA released a study detailing the damage that would be inflicted upon the domestic ethanol industry if the tax credits were allowed to expire, which would include the loss of 112,000 jobs and the reduction of domestic ethanol production by 38 percent.

Chuck Zimmerman interviewed Bob Dinneen, who participated in a press conference today introducing the bill. Listen to or download that interview here: