With the farm bill and energy bill being discussed in Washington, D.C., board members of First United Ethanol LLC (FUEL)—Georgia's first ethanol plant under construction in Camilla—felt they should let their Congressional delegation know that ethanol isn't just for the Midwest, said board Chairman Murray Campbell. Not only did Campbell make a trip to Capitol Hill, but FUEL hired a lobbying firm. "We felt there was a value to see what's going on," Campbell said. "We're constantly receiving their reports. You have the opportunity to comment if you know [what's being discussed]."

FUEL is one of several ethanol producers that hired lobbyists this year. Within the ethanol industry, Archer Daniels Midland Co. spent $440,000 in the first six months of 2007 to lobby on the farm bill, the energy bill, renewable energy issues, and other regulatory and general trade issues. The Renewable Fuels Association spent $310,000 in lobbying on the farm bill, energy bill and a number of other measures of interest to the renewable fuels industry. The American Coalition for Ethanol reportedly spent $20,000 on lobbyists, and the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition spent $30,000.

Several ethanol producers individually hired lobbying firms to represent them on Capitol Hill. For example, Bockhorny Group Inc. reports its client Poet LLC spent $120,000 on lobbying. Others include: American Capitol Group (VeraSun Energy Corp.) $60,000; Gephardt Group LLC, and Maxwell and Milder (E3 BioFuels LLC) $80,000; Troutman Sanders Public Affairs Group LLC (FUEL) $60,000; ML Strategies LLC (Mascoma Corp.) $60,000; and Cornerstone Government Affairs LLC (Abengoa Bioenergy) $80,000. Other companies in the ethanol industry, such as Cargill Inc. ($160,000) and Iogen Corp. ($120,000), are more difficult to track because their lobbying expenditures aren't broken out by individual sectors.

In contrast to the $1.6 million that the ethanol industry spent on lobbying in the first half of 2007, several petroleum companies spent nearly $18.5 million in the same six months, including BP America ($2.06 million), Chevron ($4.08 million), ConocoPhillips ($2.24 million), Exxon Mobil ($6.44 million), Marathon Oil ($2.01 million) and Shell Oil ($1.56 million). The disclosures for the oil companies' lobbying activities reflect its widespread interests that extend beyond renewable fuels issues to international trade issues, marine bills and numerous other topics.

The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 requires that lobbyists file semiannual forms for each of their clients that spend more than $6,000 in a six-month period. In the case of organizations employing in-house lobbyists, the lobbyists must file forms if more than $24,500 is spent in the period. Lobbying activities include communication, such as telephone calls and visits, as well as the cost of preparation for those visits. The Senate's Office of Public Records Web site (www.sopr.senate.gov) describes and gives examples of what constitutes lobbying activity. The site also permits the public to view individual disclosure reports. The Center for Responsive Politics uses the Senate records to compile industry totals and report total expenditures for organizations contracting with multiple lobbying firms (www.opensecrets.org).