The same amendment to end the ethanol blenders tax credit (VEETC) that failed in the Senate on Tuesday passed today on a vote of 73 to 27. The only difference between the two amendments is that Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) took the lead on it instead of Republican Tom Coburn of Oklahoma who broke procedure to bring it to the …
BYO Ethanol Helps Retailers With Blender Pump Applications
There is funding available for gas retailers to install ethanol blender pumps, the trick is navigating the application process to get it. That’s where Blend Your Own (BYO) Ethanol can help. The joint effort by the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is playing a key role in helping expedite the USDA REAP (Rural Energy …
Coburn Amendment Quashed
In a vote of 40-59, Sen. Tom Coburn’s (R-OK) Amendment No. 436 to immediately eliminate the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) and the tariff on imported ethanol was quashed. Coburn’s proposal needed 60 votes to move forward but fell short by 20 votes. Shortly after the news hit, the ethanol industry began calling for “real reform.” “The fight is …
Diverse Groups Oppose Coburn Ethanol Amendment
In advance of a vote in the Senate on an amendment to eliminate the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) immediately, ethanol interests remain “cautiously optimistic” that the measure will fail. Seven agriculture and ethanol organizations sent a letter to the Senate leadership urging a no vote on the amendment proposed last week by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). In it …
Thune/Klobuchar Bill Endorsed by Ethanol Industry
Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) along with a bipartisan group of nine other Senate colleagues have introduced the Ethanol Reform and Deficit Reduction Act. The bill is designed to modify the current Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Incentive (VEETC), which is a set tax, to a variable tax incentive tied to the price of oil. To help open …
Ethanol Industry Criticizes Coburn
The ethanol industry is criticizing Sen. Tom Coburn’s (R-OK) amendment to eliminate the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) immediately. During the past few months, the ethanol industry has acknowledged that the time is near for the tax credit to be phased out and has offered bipartisan plans to phase out VEETC over the next five years. Growth Energy has …
ACE Invites Presidential Candidates to Energy Forum
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is inviting the candidates for the 2012 Presidential Election to participate in an energy policy forum in Des Moines, Iowa on Wednesday, August 24, 2011. As part of the open invitation, ACE sent an open letter detailing the ethanol industry’s position on the ethanol tax incentive (VEETC). Last month, former Minnesota Governor Pawlenty called …
Ethanol Groups Support Open Fuel Standard
While one biofuels group has expressed concern about Open Fuel Standard legislation, the three main ethanol organizations in the country are in favor of it. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen says they endorse the Open Fuel Standard Act introduced by Representatives John Shimkus and Elliot Engel. Additionally, the RFA has endorsed similar legislation offered by Senators Tom …
Ethanol Industry Agrees With Pawlenty
Announcing his candidacy for the president in the heart of ethanol country, Republican Tim Pawlenty, former governor of Minnesota, made headlines Monday for his comments on phasing out ethanol subsidies, but the real story is that the industry agrees with him. “The hard truth is there are no longer any sacred programs,” Pawlenty said. “The truth about federal energy subsidies …
FREE Webinar: Navigating the USDA REAP Application Process
The Blend Your Own (BYO) Ethanol Campaign is hosting a FREE webinar called “Navigating the USDA REAP Application Process.” The webinar will provide participants with updated and in-depth information on ethanol blending, mid-level ethanol blends, E85 and infrastructure incentives. The BYO Ethanol Campaign is a joint effort between the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE). …