This Week In Ag 0021 - Fueling Ethanol

Show notes

Chat with Matt Hartwig, The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

• Can you explain the key points of the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (aka VEETC)?
• What impact would a reduction in the VEETC have on the U.S. ethanol industry? Ideas floating in DC have credit going from $0.45 to $0.36.
• What is the status of U.S. exports of ethanol? 
• Do you see a reduction in tariffs on ethanol imports? Would you be open to legislation that allowed for both a reduction in ethanol import tariffs and continued subsidies?
• "Subsidies" is a word that many Americans feel negative toward. How do you explain the use of subsidies as a good for the production of ethanol?
• What do you believe is the long term (10 to 15 years) view for ethanol in the United States? The World? 
• Lots of action on Capitol Hill. What other legislation is in play that would affect ethanol and its producers?
• The Renewable Fuels Association is focused on ethanol. Are there interests by the RFA in other renewable fuels?
• What types of regulation, policy, or legislation is occurring at the state level?
• Next year, what are some the issues the RFA sees as important to stay in front of, both at the federally level and at the state level?
• What events or activities is the RFA promoting in 2011?

What is you website pick of the week? What information do we all need to know about, use, share, rave about?!?

• ChooseEthanol.com provides information for consumers on ethanol and its economic impacts to the U.S.
• Slate Labs information visualization of the unemployment rate and total job loss. 
• Google Sketchup and Google Building Maker

Where can we find you?

• Matt Hartwig is on Twitter at @matthartwig or call (202) 289-3835
• Nate J Taylor is on Twitter at @natejtaylor
• John Blue is on Twitter at @TruffleMedia