NCGA Calls on Senate Energy Committee to Look at Ways to Increase Natural
Gas (7-10-03)
In a letter Thursday
to the Senate Energy Committee, the National Corn Growers Association
(NCGA) encouraged members to fully examine policies that would increase
the nation’s supply of natural gas. NCGA’s letter arrived
the same day as the committee’s oversight hearing on natural
gas that discussed reasons behind the high price of natural gas, its
effect on the economy and potential solutions.
According to the
letter, “While natural gas is increasing, we cannot sustain
increases in the use of natural gas without a commitment to produce
natural gas. There are many indications our nation’s economy
and national security will be seriously impaired should we not take
immediate actions to produce domestic natural gas for this growing
demand. Our ability to produce food and fuel for our nation and the
world depends on a sound policy of domestic natural gas independence.”
Growers rely on
affordable natural gas, which is an energy source for nitrogen fertilizer,
irrigation and drying of grain, and ethanol production.
“Higher
natural gas prices will negatively affect the growing ethanol industry
as natural gas costs account for nearly 65 percent of the energy costs
for ethanol production,” continued the letter. “As the
industry reaches clarity and certainty for corn growers and ethanol
producers through the establishment of a renewable fuels standard
(RFS), we face a tremendous hurdle that will hinder our success.”
Click here
to read the letter in its entirety.