BIO Expresses Strong Support for Biofuels Incentives in GREEN JOBS Act
Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of BIO, stated, “Rapidly increasing U.S. production of advanced biofuels is a sound way to create truly green jobs, contribute to economic growth, and significantly reduce reliance on imported petroleum. Enduring federal commitment to the goal of increasing advanced biofuel production is vital to maintaining investment and progress in building biorefineries and infrastructure. The technology for cellulosic and advanced biofuels is ready, even though commercial development has been slowed by economic conditions.”
The GREEN JOBS Act is intended to support industry efforts to secure project financing by strengthening and expanding federal tax incentives for next generation biofuels, thus accelerating the development of biorefineries and high-wage American jobs. The legislation would open existing cellulosic biofuels tax credits to algae-based fuels and extend the credits for four additional years. The proposed legislation would also provide cellulosic and algae-based biorefineries an option to choose a refundable 30 percent investment tax credit in lieu of production incentives, greatly enhancing the ability of pioneering producers to build their first commercial plants. Businesses would not be allowed to claim both the production and investment incentives but would be granted the flexibility to choose the incentive best suited to their business condition.
Brent Erickson, executive vice president for BIO’s Industrial and Environmental Section, said, “If enacted, this legislation would provide the consistent, sustained and diverse federal support necessary to enable rapid growth of a sustainable advanced biofuel industry. This targeted, cost-effective public policy can help the industry translate innovation into economic growth, generate green jobs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.”
A recent report commissioned by BIO, U.S. Economic Impact of Advanced Biofuels Production, projects that development of advanced biorefineries could create as many as 29,000 jobs over the next few years and hundreds of thousands by 2030, contributing more than $140 billion in economic growth. Further, BIO’s white paper, Biobased Chemicals and Products: A New Driver of U.S. Economic Development and Green Jobs, shows that projected growth in the biobased chemicals and plastics industry, which are also produced in advanced biorefineries, can create thousands more jobs. This sector, which accounts for 4 percent of the market, already generates 5,700 direct jobs and is likely responsible for over 40,000 jobs economy wide.
For copies of Biobased Chemicals and Products: A New Driver of U.S. Economic Development and Green Jobs or U.S. Economic Impact of Advanced Biofuels Production, please contact Paul Winters at pwinters@bio.org or 202-962-9237, or visit http://BIO.org/ind/.
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May 3, 2010
Chicago, IL
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May 3-6, 2010
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May 4-7, 2010
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June 27-30, 2010
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September 28-30, 2010,
Sioux Falls, SD
About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.
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