A coalition of business associations, public interest organizations and environmental groups, including several protein and food industry-related groups, sent a letter to Congress this week urging senators to oppose legislation that could boost the blend rate for ethanol to 15 percent from 10 percent.

An amendment to the Senate Interior Appropriations bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency to issue a waiver to authorize the use of the E15 ethanol blend, according to a news release posted on the American Meat Institute's Web site.

The coalition also this week took out a full-page advertisement conveying the same message in Roll Call, known as the "newspaper of Capitol Hill."

The E15 ethanol blend is a so-called "mid-level" blend of fuel, which has more than 10 percent ethanol.

Among the groups included in the coalition are AMI, National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation, American Frozen Food Institute, FarmEcon LLC, Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Snack Food Association.

"We collectively, and strongly, oppose such an ill-considered approach as contrary to scientific integrity and potentially harmful to our environment, public health, consumers and manufacturers," the letter states.

"We are united in our opposition to any legislative effort to force the introduction of 'mid-level ethanol blends' into commerce until completion of the on-going independent, rigorous and verifiable testing indicates that the use of such blends will not pose a risk to gasoline-powered engines, to public health, to the environment and to consumers," the letter concludes.

The ad charges that ethanol in concentrated amounts can be damaging to engines, its use drives up the cost of food, it is bad for the environment and, if corn prices spike as they did in 2008, residents of rural communities with relatively few options stand to lose their jobs.

To read the letter in its entirety, click here. http://www.meatami.com/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/53499

To see the ad, click here. http://www.meatami.com/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/53502

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