As he has done for many years, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen addressed the world’s largest gathering of ethanol producers at the opening of the general session for the 2010 Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo in St. Louis on Tuesday.

“We meet here today as an environmental catastrophe continues to unfold in the Gulf of Mexico. The economic and environmental cost of which is simply unimaginable,” said Dinneen. “More than ever before, now is the time to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit and ingenuity of America’s heartland and break our addiction to oil; now must be the time to seize control of our energy future. That future begins with the expertise and the creativity of the people in this room.”

Dinneen addressed the immediate concerns facing the ethanol industry, increasing the blend rate to 15 percent and renewing the tax incentives set to expire at the end of the year, and expressed optimism that both will yet be accomplished as long as the industry works together.

“The issues we must confront cannot be solved with press releases or a speech at an ethanol conference. In order to ensure the long term viability of this industry and those members of this industry to come, we must not shy away from hard work,” said Dinneen. “Let’s get to work.”

Listen to or download Dinneen’s speech in the player below and check out photos from FEW on Flickr.