Shenandoah native lobbies for ethanol industry

A spokesman for the Renewable Fuels Association was in New York City this past week. Monte Shaw says he was making the rounds to lobby for Congressional action on the energy bill which includes pro-ethanol provisions. Shaw, a native of Shenandoah, says when oil prices are so high, there’ll be more of a clamor to enact new energy policy, and ethanol helps reduce American reliance on foreign oil. The energy bill cleared the U-S House last year, but has never been able to pass a parliamentary hurdle in the Senate. The key point of controversy is a House-passed waiver that would give the makers of the oil-based fuel additive that competes with ethanol protection from liability lawsuits. The Senate, reportedly, would vote against that provision.