Wis. Bio Industry Alliance: Pushes for extension of ethanol tax credits

Contact: Joshua Morby 414.791.9120

Members traveling to Washington to meet with Congressional Delegation

MILWAUKEE – On behalf of all of the state’s ethanol plants, the Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance (WBIA) is urging Congress to pass H.R. 4940 and S. 3231, which will extend ethanol tax credits that will otherwise expire at the end of this year.

Joshua Morby, Executive Director of the WBIA, and Robert Sather, President of the WBIA, are traveling to Washington, D.C. this week for the Renewable Fuels Association meeting. While in Washington, Morby and Sather will hold a series of meetings with members of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation to discuss the vital need to extend these tax credits. Meetings are currently scheduled with representatives from the offices of Senators Kohl and Feingold, as well as Representatives Baldwin, Kind, Obey, and Ryan.

“We are looking forward to our meetings with the members of the Wisconsin congressional delegation,” said Sather. “It is important that they hear directly about this legislation and how it will severely impact Wisconsin’s bio industry if not enacted.”

H.R. 4940, introduced by Representatives Earl Pomeroy and John Shimkus, and S. 3231, introduced by Senators Chuck Grassley and Kent Conrad, will extend the following:

* A 45-cent-per-gallon Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC)

* A 54-cent-per-gallon ethanol tariff

* A cellulosic ethanol tax credit

* A small producers tax credit

Without extension, the tax credits will expire at the end of this year, which could have negative ramifications here in Wisconsin and nationally. According to a recent study released by the University of Missouri, if these tax credits were not extended, within three years Wisconsin would lose over 13,000 jobs and nearly $2.4 billion in economic output as a result of direct and indirect damage to the state ethanol industry.

“This is an outcome we cannot afford to let happen,” said Morby. “We hope Congress will take action to prevent these crippling job losses from occurring.”

The Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance is a diverse group of businesses, environmental groups and statewide and local organizations that have come together to build both public and legislative awareness of the Bio Industry in Wisconsin.

For more information about the Alliance, or to find out how to join, please visit our website: http://www.wisconsinbioindustry.com.