Coalition
Letter Urges Bush to Support Ethanol Legislation (4-12-04)
The National
Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today commended the Governors’
Ethanol Coalition for its April 9 letter urging President George W.
Bush to support enactment of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) during
the 108th Congress.
The letter calls
on Bush to support new ethanol requirements and tax credits as
part of
any new energy legislation this year, stating, “We urge you
to impress upon Congress the importance of passing energy legislation,
including the RFS and VEETC (Volumetric Ethanol
Excise Tax Credit), this year.”
Signed by Illinois
Gov. Rod Blagojevich, chairman of the governors’
coalition, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, vice-chair of the coalition,
the letter says creating an RFS “provides a logical roadmap
for reducing consumer fuel prices, increasing energy security, stimulating
rural economies and generating jobs.”
Blagojevich and Pawlenty also cite increased flexibility for refiners,
growth opportunities for the renewable fuels industry and a cleaner
environment as reasons for new ethanol legislation. The coalition,
comprised of 30 governors from across the United States, also supports
the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC), which the U.S. House
of Representatives passed April 2 as a provision of the highway bill.
Additionally,
the letter calls on Bush to leave in place the oxygenate requirement
in the
federal Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) Program. “This
program has improved air quality in every ozone non-attainment area
across the country,” the letter states. “California and
other states already addressed concerns about MTBE by using ethanol,
thereby protecting drinking water supplies without lessening the
air
quality benefits of the federal RFG program.”
To view the letter, click
here.