Ethanol battle unlikely to fade

Livestock, food industries discuss intensifying push to change law

Efforts to cut or freeze U.S. corn ethanol requirements are unlikely to end with the federal government’s denial Thursday of Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s plea to waive half of this year’s mandate.

Livestock and food industry groups that backed the request already are talking about increased lobbying efforts in Washington to change the law.

Legislation under discussion in the Senate could freeze ethanol quotas at current levels, and at least one governor who supported Perry’s request is considering a request of his own.

The efforts highlight the momentum behind calls to revisit a policy that only months ago enjoyed wide support but that more recently has been blamed for higher corn and food prices, environmental abuse and international food shortages.

Houston Chronicle