News Advisory
For Release: July 11, 2007
 

WHAT

A national conference call for journalists & editorial writers to release a new report – The Rush to Ethanol: Not All BioFuels are Created Equal – that makes the case that ethanol, and corn ethanol especially, is no silver bullet solution for fossil fuel dependence, energy independence, or curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

WHEN

July 18th, 2007 at 12 noon EST
To join the call please R.S.V.P. to Denise Hughes at 917-549-2621 or Denise@creative-connectors.com You may dial in directly to: 1-888-753-6321

WHO

• Scott Cullen, Senior Policy Advisor, Network for New Energy Choices;
  
• Professor Michael Dworkin, Director, Institute for Energy and the Environment at Vermont Law School;
• Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch.

WHY

While politicians promise that America will be driving on switchgrass-based ethanol instead of gasoline in the next decade, the majority of the subsidies being debated in Congress will go to corn-based ethanol refiners. Our report is a comprehensive review of the literature on the environmental and economic implications of pinning our hopes on corn ethanol to reduce dependency on fossil fuels.

The groups will make recommendations on U.S. biofuels policy including specific recommendations to reform ethanol provisions of the 2007 Farm Bill.

# # #

Food & Water Watch is a nonprofit consumer organization that works to ensure clean water and safe food in the United States and around the world. We challenge the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources by empowering people to take action and by transforming the public consciousness about what we eat and drink.

Network for New Energy Choices promotes safe, clean, and environmentally responsible energy solutions. We advocate for energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy as the solutions to our energy crisis and we work to educate the public about the way we produce, distribute and consume energy.

Institute for Energy and the Environment at Vermont Law School scholarly, technical and practical publications; provides forums and conferences for professional education and issue development; and serves as a center for graduate research on energy issues, with an environmental awareness.

Presenter Biographies

• Wenonah Hauter
  

  Food & Water Watch

  Wenonah Hauter is the Executive Director of Food & Water Watch. She has worked extensively on energy, food, water and environmental issues at the national, state and local level. Prior to founding Food & Water Watch, Wenonah served as the Director of Public Citizen’s Energy and Environment Program, Environmental Policy Director for Citizen Action, and Senior Organizer at Union of Concerned Scientists. She has a M.S. in Applied Anthropology from the University of Maryland.

  
  
  

• Michael Dworkin
  

  Vermont Law School

  Michael Dworkin, Professor of Law and Director of the Institute for Energy and the Environment at Vermont Law School, has also been a litigator for U.S. EPA, and the Chair of the Vermont Public Service Board. Michael is now a non-utility Trustee of the Electric Power Research Institute and was recently elected to Board of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. Michael is a graduate of Middlebury College and the Harvard Law School.

  
  
  

• Scott Cullen
  

  Network for New Energy Choices

  Scott M. Cullen is an environmental attorney and is the Senior Advisor at The Network for New Energy Choices, where he primarily works on legal and policy issues related to the state of the environment, green building, and renewable energy.  Previously, Scott served as the Coastal Conservation Director for the Nature Conservancy, the Executive Director and Counsel to the Standing for Truth About Radiation Foundation (STAR) and on numerous community conservation and energy advisory and oversight committees. Scott graduated from James Madison University and Vermont Law School.