Moonshine to motor fuel: tax incentives for fuel ethanol

Biofuels have been embraced by supporters ranging from President George W. Bush to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Before 1930, the U.S. Treasury focused on shutting down small alcohol producers. After 1978, U.S. energy policy sought to encourage ethanol production to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Federal and state incentives have been credited with increasing ethanol production from 175 million gallons in 1980 to 6.8 billion gallons in 2007. The Internal Revenue Code contains three income tax credits designed to encourage ethanol use: the alcohol mixture credit, the pure alcohol credit, and the small ethanol producer’s credit. The credits, together with other subsidies, come close to making the price of ethanol competitive with petroleum-based fuels. This article examines the tax incentives for ethanol and considers their economic and environmental effectiveness. In theory, ethanol use could reduce dependence on foreign oil and greenhouse gas emissions. In practice, the environmental benefits of ethanol are in doubt. Using the tax system to encourage conservation and discourage driving may be a better way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and oil dependency.