For Immediate Release
July 22, 2009
Contact Information:
Bill Holbrook 202-457-0480
Steve Higley 202-457-0480
Coalition Advocates For Scientific Integrity In Federal Ethanol Policy
COALITION ADVOCATES FOR SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY IN FEDERAL ETHANOL POLICY
Environmental Working Group (EWG) Alex Formuzis (202) 667-6982 alex@ewg.org Don Carr (202) 667-6982 don@ewg.org Friends of the Earth (FOE) Nick Berning (202) 783-7400 NBerning@foe.org Kate McMahon (202) 783-7400 KMcMahon@foe.org Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) Scott Openshaw 202-295-3957 sopenshaw@gmaonline.org National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Christine Pomorski (202) 737-9774 cpomorski@nmma.org National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) Bill Holbrook (202) 457-0480 bholbrook@npra.org Steve Higley (202) 457-0480 shigley@npra.org Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Eric Young (202) 289-2373 eyoung@nrdc.org Jenny Powers (212) 727-4566 jpowers@nrdc.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A coalition of environmental, food production and manufacturing organizations wrote to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson and the leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works and Appropriations Committees this week to continue its support of a comprehensive, science-based review of federal ethanol policy. The letter to Administrator Jackson focused on a pending petition to increase ethanol blends in motor gasoline, while the letters to Senate committee leadership urged them to oppose legislation that would prohibit the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions from market-induced deforestation in the lifecycle account for biofuels. Similar attempts were successful in the House’s recently passed climate bill. Biofuels that cause these types of greenhouse gas emissions are also the same biofuels that contribute to increased food prices around the world.
“It makes little sense to increase the already lavish federal support for corn ethanol, a fuel that has failed in its promise to help the environment and make America energy independent. Federal support should instead be directed to cleaner technologies like wind, solar and truly sustainable biofuels if we are serious about the threat of climate change,” said Craig Cox, Environmental Working Group Midwest Vice President.
“As we learn more about the impacts of biofuels, it has become clear that today’s biofuels take us backwards in terms of global warming, while increasing global hunger,” said Kate McMahon, Energy and Transportation Policy Campaigner of Friends of the Earth. “It is time for biofuels policy to no longer be driven by political opportunism and greed but rather be founded in scientific reality.”
“GMA strongly supports the use of truly sustainable biofuels that do not detract from the world’s food and feed needs,” said Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) Senior Vice President and Chief Government Affairs Officer Mary Sophos. “We urge Congress and the Administration to adhere to President Obama’s call for scientifically based decision making and urge them to reject attempts to allow mid level ethanol blends to enter the fuel supply ahead of proper due diligence. We also call on Congress and the Administration to refuse efforts by some to prevent EPA from determining the true environmental impact of biofuels. By following the science we will ensure our nation’s energy policy can simultaneously meet our energy, environmental and food security needs.”
Thom Dammrich, President of National Marine Manufacturers Association, said, “Congressional and federal agency decisions on ethanol and other biofuels should be based on independent and transparent science. We are concerned that the rush to increase ethanol consumption is occurring without the scientific and technical information necessary to avoid significant performance, durability and emissions problems in recreational marine engines and boats, with serious consequences for manufacturers, consumers, public health and the environment. With more than 13 million registered boats designed to operate on not more than 10 percent ethanol in operation in the U.S., we urge lawmakers and regulators to pursue a science-first approach when evaluating increased ethanol blends and biofuels policy.”
“Sound, verifiable science should always guide the crafting and implementation of environmental and energy policy,” Greg Scott, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of NPRA, the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, said. “All too often, political expediency overwhelms a comprehensive, deliberative process that considers every variable and potential consequence. We hope the Administration and members of Congress do not rush to judgment in considering the petition or bypassing scientific review.”
“Biofuels are often promoted because they can help revitalize poor rural communities, but it is the poor that will be hurt the most if we let biofuels pollute our air and climate and drive up food prices,” said Nathanael Greene, Director of Renewable Energy Policy with the Natural Resources Defense Council. “This coalition has come together because we want sound science rather than special interests to determine our biofuels policies. We are here to push back against the runaway politics of corn ethanol.”
Copies of the letters are attached.
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NPRA members include nearly 500 companies, including virtually all American refiners and petrochemical manufacturers. Our members supply consumers with a wide variety of products and services used daily in their homes and businesses. These products include gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil, jet fuel, lubricants and the chemicals that serve as “building blocks” in making everything from plastics to clothing to medicine to computers.