Biofuels organizations are strongly urging lawmakers to approve an amendment to the Transportation Bill (S.1813) offered by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) that would extend tax incentives for biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol.

“We applaud Sen. Stabenow for introducing this amendment and we urge all senators to support it,” said Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs at the National Biodiesel Board. “This is about creating good-paying jobs and building up a U.S. energy industry that will help end our dangerous vulnerability to the kinds of oil price spikes we’re seeing now.” The $1 per gallon biodiesel tax incentive expired at the end of 2011.

Advanced Ethanol Council Executive Director Brooke Coleman wrote a letter last week to Senate leadership urging support for the amendment that would extend the Cellulosic Biofuels Producer Tax Credit (PTC) and the Accelerated Depreciation Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Property through 2013. “Several billion dollars have been invested in the development of advanced biofuels with the expectation that Congress will stay the course with regard to its commitment to the industry,” Coleman wrote. “The PTC and accelerated depreciation allowance provide investment certainty in a high‐risk marketplace largely supply‐ and price‐controlled by OPEC.”

The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the American Soybean Association are other organizations that are urging Senators to pass the amendment. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has also proposed an amendment that includes extension of the biodiesel tax credit along with other energy related provisions. Work on the Transportation Bill is scheduled to continue in the Senate on Tuesday. Сайт знакомств