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NCGA
Grower-Leaders Begin the Push for a Renewable Fuel Standard on Capitol
Hill (1-29-02)
This week while
most farmers are assessing the prospects of another planting season,
grower-leaders of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) are in
Washington, D.C., assessing the prospects for ethanol in another congressional
season.
"We're going
to jump start the prospects for energy legislation moving through the
Senate and weigh the potential for a renewable fuel standard that could
help grow the ethanol industry and grind more corn," said Tim Hume.
The Walsh, Colo., corn grower is president of the NCGA.
Besides Hume, the
NCGA team includes Lee Klein, a Battle Creek, Neb., grower and chairman
of NCGA, Fred Yoder, Plain City, Ohio, grower and president-elect, Boyd
Smith, York, Neb., grower and chairman of the NCGA ethanol committee,
and Rick Tolman, NCGA CEO.
Today the NCGA leaders
will meet with Bush Administration officials, representatives of the
ethanol industry, and members of Congress and their staffs to discuss
the potential of the renewable fuel standard (RFS). "Proposals
to establish a RFS for the nation's transportation fuel will create
economic opportunity in rural America while leading us toward energy
independence," he said.
Hume explained that
a RFS equal to 4% of total gasoline and diesel use phased in over 15
years will reduce oil imports by an average of 302 million barrels annually.
"That's like eliminating the delivery of a super-tanker of foreign
oil every day for the next 15 years," he pointed out. "And,
the decrease in oil imports will reduce our trade deficit by $63.5 billion,
create 300,000 new jobs in America, boost household income by $71 billion,
boost farm income by $6.6 billion, and add more than $10 billion to
rural economic investment.
"The United
States is almost 60% dependent on foreign sources for our oil needs.
The RFS is the first significant step on the road to greater energy
independence. And, the RFS is consistent with those policies and standards
established by the U.S. government that have increased our energy efficiency
and independence, and enhanced our productivity," Hume said.
"We're in Washington
this week to find out how we can work with our friends in the industry
and Congress to make it happen," he concluded.
For more information
about NCGA's ethanol efforts, visit http://www.ncga.com/ethanol/main/index.htm.
Last reviewed
January 29, 2002
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