Source:  Dani Friedland, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 2/22/11

The U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of blocking federal funding to install blender pumps and blocking waivers for fuel that is 15 percent ethanol.

The blender pump measure, introduced by Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) as an amendment to a continuing resolution funding the government for the remainder of the fiscal year, prohibits the use of federal funds for constructing an ethanol storage facility or an ethanol blender pump.

The amendment passed by a vote of 261 to 158. Of the Republicans who participated in the vote, 183 voted aye, and 53 voted no. On the Democratic side, 78 voted in support of the amendment and 105 voted against it.

Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) introduced the other amendment, which would prohibit any EPA use of federal funds to implement a partial waiver granted to increase allowable ethanol content to 15 percent. The House approved the amendment by a vote of 285 to 136. Of the Republicans, 206 voted for it, while 31 voted against it. Democrats were more evenly split, with 79 voting in favor of the measure and 105 voting against it.

“We commend the House for voting to begin the process of reining in the out-of-control ethanol program,” National Chicken Council President George Watts said in a statement. “This country needs neither E15 nor taxpayer-subsidized ethanol facilities. We urge the Senate to take similar action.”

“Protection of the environment and the nation’s motorists must take precedence over the politics of biofuels,” a diverse coalition of groups including the NCC, American Meat Institute and National Turkey Federation wrote in a letter to John Boehner, speaker of the house, and Nancy Pelosi, the minority leader. “Simply stated, [the Sullivan] amendment will call a halt to EPA’s headlong rush to introduce E15 at least until unbiased and independent testing on the impact of E15 on vehicle and off-road engines and the environment can be completed.”

An ethanol industry group shot back with a statement of its own. “The House has denied consumers choice in the type of fuel they use,” the Renewable Fuels Association said. “Instead, they have chosen to continue giving oil companies a virtual monopoly over the fueling system. Our dependence on imported oil is neither safe nor sustainable. As the world's largest oil companies tell us they can't find new sources of oil, this House measure would seek to relegate future generations to a preventable future of oil dependence.”

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