WASHINGTON -- It's been several months since Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers asked the Environmental Protection Agency to increase the allowed ethanol-gas blend levels to 15 percent. The public comment period ended July 20.
You still should support American job creation by expanding use of our homegrown fuel: ethanol.
This important debate touches on so many vital American issues: job creation, reducing our environmental impact and increasing our national security by reducing reliance on foreign oil. The ethanol issue touches all of us, and your opinion needs to be heard by the EPA.
Take, for instance, the economy. As the Obama administration and Congress look to stabilize financial markets during this recession, it's no secret that unemployment rates are increasing dramatically -- now at 9.5 percent nationwide -- and expected to rise even further. Many industries are struggling, and American workers are rightly concerned.
But by supporting increased blend levels of just 5 percent, we can create more than 136,000 new "green collar" jobs that cannot be outsourced and generate $24.4 billion in economic revenue. At a time when few things economically seem to be working, ethanol is providing much-needed jobs to hundreds of thousands of hard-working Americans.
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Researchers at North Dakota State University in Fargo concluded that just one ethanol plant in North Dakota generated $32 million in economic activity and more than 500 jobs. With advanced biofuel production like cellulosic ethanol that is derived from wheat straw, one plant in North Dakota could create $130 million in economic activity and nearly 2,400 jobs.
The best part is that it doesn't take a bailout or the infusion of billions of dollars to make this goal a reality. No one in the ethanol industry is asking for a handout. The only thing we are asking for is a fair shake. The rest will take care of itself.
Editor's Note: Buis is the chief executive officer for Growth Energy.
