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Lee Klein, President
of National Corn Growers' Association and Nebraska Corn Board Member,
comments on the merits of the Hagel/Johnson Renewable Fuels for
Energy Security Act. Governor Johanns (far left) and Senator Hagel
(center) made the joint announcement at a press conference earlier
today. Tom Nathan and Lynn Crisp, members of the Nebraska Corn Growers'
Association Board of Directors, are also in attendance to show their
organization's support. |
NCGA
Voices Support for Renewable Fuels Bill at Nebraska Press Conference
(6-05-01)
National Corn Growers
Association (NCGA) President Lee Klein continued to push for ethanol's
place in provisions of the new energy policy as he spoke yesterday at
a press conference held by Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) in Lincoln, Neb.
At the press conference,
Hagel announced his plans to introduce a bill this week that will require
U.S. fuel for trucks and cars to contain at least 3% renewable energy
by 2011 and 5% by 2016.
In expressing NCGA's support for the bill, Klein noted NCGA has been
working closely with Sens. Hagel and Tim Johnson, (D-S.D.), on the legislation
and the place for ethanol in the nation's energy policy.
This would represent
a tremendous opportunity for ethanol, requiring five times more production
by 2011 and eight times more production by 2016.
Already thousands of farmers have invested in cooperatives that produced
40% of the 1.6 billion gallons of ethanol made in 2000 from 600 million
bushels of corn. Boosting ethanol production to meet the 3% energy content
in 2011 would require 3 billion bushels of corn.
Groups attending
the press conference included the NCGA, the American Soybean Association,
the Farm Bureau and the Nebraska Ethanol Board Klein noted that Nebraska
Gov. Mike Johanns asked the ag representatives in attendance if they
agreed with the proposal. Every group in the audience voiced agreement
and offered to support the legislation.
Last
reviewed June 5, 2001
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