Submitted on April 21, 2009 to The Wall Street Journal

Dear Editor:

Max Schulz's April 20 column bashing U.S. ethanol producers (The Ethanol Bubble Pops in Iowa - More evidence the fuel makes little economic sense) amounted to little more than twisted logic and name-calling.

His thesis that reduced profits and increased bankruptcies among ethanol facilities is a reflection of corn ethanol's shortcomings shows how out of touch "think tanks" can really be with today's economy.

Numerous U.S. newspapers have gone belly-up recently, charitable causes from coast-to-coast are struggling, and small businesses of all stripes are down because of the economy. It would be unfair to blame any of this pain on product shortcomings; just like it's unfair to ignore the fact that the recession—not policy or businesses decisions—sparked the ethanol industry's current financial stress.

If anything, promoting ethanol and other renewable fuels will help get our economy back on its feet as we look to wean ourselves off of foreign oil dependence. And as an added bonus, the EPA estimates our existing ethanol policy will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 13.1 million metric tons—the equivalent of eliminating 2.3 million cars from the road.

Andy Quinn
The Hand that Feeds U.S.
Litchfield, MN