30-year-old corn ethanol subsidy nixed by Washington

[Bigredmariner]

Frankly I think it was time to stop subsidizing corn for fuel. I know a lot of farmers won't feel the same.

From Autoblog.com

Corn-based ethanol is a controversial fuel in its own right, and a longstanding federal subsidy for blending the biofuel with gasoline has been an additional source of consternation over the last 30 years. According to The Detroit News, Congress has wrapped up its work for 2011 without extending the incentive, a move that's drawn praise from environmental groups and taxpayer advocates.

Hand-in-hand with the discontinuation of the tax subsidy, an import tariff on ethanol imported from Brazil has also been cancelled, which opens the tap for a source of ethanol that doesn't have the reputation of being a dirty diversion of a food crop that corn-based ethanol carries. That means that while the blenders' tax credit is no more, the 2007 legislation calling for a significant increase in the use of renewable fuels is likely not going anywhere if the abundant ethanol produced from Brazil's sugarcane economy can be used instead.

The corn lobby is naturally not thrilled with the news, but it has put on a brave face. Tom Buis of Growth Energy, a group that supports and fosters the cause of domestic ethanol production, tells the DetNews, "without the tax credit, the ethanol industry will survive; it will continue to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create jobs, and strengthen our economy." That statement isn't exactly at odds with the actions of Congress, since there's now about $6 billion per year that could be plowed into further renewable fuel research and development that would ensure corn ethanol is indeed a stepping stone fuel, as it was sold in the first place.

 

[Texas Jim]

 

[daddy]

 

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Brazil is even importing American corn ethanol because the sugarcane processing plants are producing more sugar for export.

 

[Zembonez]

We need to stop subsidizing businesses in general. Oil companies that make billions and we give them tax money? Farmers getting paid NOT to grow crops?

Time for that crap to go away.

 

[roughneck266]

Thank goodness! I am tired of having to buy stabilizer to stop all the water buildup in my motorcycles and my boat.

 

[OldCracker29]

We need to stop subsidizing businesses in general. Oil companies that make billions and we give them tax money? Farmers getting paid NOT to grow crops?

Time for that crap to go away.

 

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Farmers getting paid NOT to grow crops?

 

[ScottyBoy]

Thank goodness! I am tired of having to buy stabilizer to stop all the water buildup in my motorcycles and my boat.

They will still be putting Ethanol in the gas most likely.

One could only dream that they would go back to 100% pure undiluted gasoline.

 

[99 4X4 5.3]

Thank goodness! I am tired of having to buy stabilizer to stop all the water buildup in my motorcycles and my boat.

I know right.... I poured the gas out of my chainsaw the other day and it looked white and it hadn't been in there long