Livestock groups oppose ethanol blend expansion
By Drovers news source
| Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A group of food industry organizations, including the American Meat Institute, National Pork Producers Council and National Chicken Council, want the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to oppose proposals to increase the level of ethanol to be blended into gasoline.
“We strongly support the
development of cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels, as well as
policies that will help commercialize biofuels that will reduce our reliance on
food and feed to produce fuel,” the group's letter to EPA states. “However, we
are opposed to efforts to increase the amount of biofuel blended into our fuel
supplies until sustainable biofuel alternatives are commercially available.”
The groups ask that EPA not permit gasoline blends that contain more than 10 percent ethanol until:
- EPA completes a lifecycle assessment of biofuels' impacts on climate change, as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
- Department of Energy and EPA complete an assessment of the impacts of intermediate blends on engines and certify that there are no performance, safety or environmental concerns with raising the 10 percent blend level.
- Cellulosic and advanced biofuels are commercially available throughout the nation.
- Congress phases out the ethanol import tariff.
- The completion of the National Academy of Sciences study required under section 203 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
- The completion of a thorough rulemaking process, including a 180-day, public-comment period allowing the many stakeholders impacted by this decision to educate the agency on the impact of proposed changes’ intentional and unintended consequences.
“Investing in cellulosic and advanced biofuels is one way the administration can help ensure that we are not pitting our energy security policies against our food- and climate-security policies. We urge you to oppose proposals to increase the amount of biofuel into our fuel supplies until critical studies are completed and sustainable alternatives are commercially available,” the letter concludes.
To view this letter in its entirety, click here.
