Scott Faber has never been known for his love of ethanol.
In fact, Faber could be called the “architect of the food versus fuel campaign,” as he engineered much of the opposition to ethanol as lobbyist for the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Now he has joined the Environmental Working Group, an organization which also tends to position itself on the opposite side of the fence from ethanol.
Despite that – or perhaps because of it – Faber agreed to step into enemy territory and be a Washington insider panelist at the 2012 National Ethanol Conference Thursday in Orlando. He is pictured here joking on stage with Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen who said that when he invited Faber he had to promise him his personal safety.
The entertaining panel discussion also included Marty Durbin with the American Petroleum Institute, Shane Karr with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Advanced Biofuels Association president Michael McAdams, and Jon Doggett with the National Corn Growers Association. While there was disagreement between the panelists on several issues – such as the Renewable Fuel Standard, whether oil companies enjoy government subsidies, and mandating automobiles be made to use alternative fuels – there was also lots of good humor and mutual respect.
Listen to the panel discussion here: Insider Panel at 2012 National Ethanol Conference