Reducing ethanol protections won’t hurt industry, report finds

“Allowing the blender credit
and tariff to expire would have neither the dramatic, adverse effect U.S.
ethanol producers claim nor create the export bonanza foreign producers hope
for,” states a release about the report. 

The report predicts that
because of mandates to increase renewable fuels, U.S. ethanol production will
increase to approximately 14.5 billion gallons by 2014 without the tax credit
and import tariff. It also states that roughly 300 jobs would be lost in the ethanol
industry by 2014 if the tax break and trade protection were reduced. 

The report also projects that
taxpayers would benefit if the tax relief and protections were allowed to
expire. 

“The Renewable Fuel Standard
is the primary driver of ethanol demand,” the report states. “The tax credit
prompts blenders to use about 900 million gallons of ethanol each year above
mandated levels. This costs taxpayers some $6 billion annually (or almost $7
per gallon). Ending the subsidy would save that amount.” 

Ways and Means Chairman Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) is looking to
reduce ethanol tax relief in a green energy jobs bill he hopes to move through
his chamber after the August recess. The Senate also seeks to move an energy
bill later this year.