WASHINGTON - Ethanol industry leaders announced they are coming together in conjunction with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) to form the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC). The AEC will be focused on accelerating the commercialization of advanced ethanol.

The AEC represents a range of advanced ethanol technologies using feedstock from grasses, corn stalks, wood waste, municipal solid waste and algae to produce clean, renewable ethanol. The industry leaders founding the AEC include Abengoa Bioenergy , BlueFire Renewables, Coskata, Enerkem, Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inbicon, Iogen, Mascoma, Osage Bio Energy and Qteros.

"Advanced ethanol production and use is a critical component of America's strategy to become more energy self-reliant," said Mascoma CEO Bill Brady, who will serve as chair of the AEC. "New ethanol technologies will dramatically increase transportation fuel security, create new jobs, and diversify the feedstocks that can be processed into transportation fuels."

"American ethanol production is one of the most dynamic industries anywhere in the world," added RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. "The innovative companies founding the AEC are leading the evolution of domestic ethanol production to include a vast array of feedstocks."

The AEC has elected Brooke Coleman as executive director. Joining Brady as vice chairs of the AEC are Chris Standlee, executive vice president of Abengoa Bioenergy, and John McCarthy, CEO of Qteros .

"Abengoa Bioenergy is excited to be a part of the Advanced Ethanol Council of the RFA," said Standlee. "This new partnership will focus and strengthen the voice of advanced biofuels, while expanding the broad base of the RFA to include new technologies and diverse feedstocks that make ethanol production viable in virtually every state in the country."