NCGA
President Addresses Governors’ Ethanol Coalition
(11-05-04)
Hybrid corn
seed developed specifically for ethanol, corn fiber conversion
and new coproducts
are just a few of the technological
advances that are helping corn farmers and ethanol producers become
increasingly efficient, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)
President Leon Corzine told members of the Governors’ Ethanol
Coalition (GEC) at a meeting Thursday in Springfield, Ill.
And as consumer demand for ethanol continues to increase, new
research and innovations will further refine the ethanol process
and expand the use of other feedstocks to supplement corn, he said.
“The same technology that made the corn-to-ethanol process
more efficient now is the same technology that will be used with
other renewable sources in the future,” Corzine said. “Every
year we’re increasing our efficiencies, both in the ethanol
plant and on the farm, and making the process better.”
Corzine updated
the coalition, which consists of governors from 29 states, on
NCGA’s efforts to advance the ethanol industry.
He described some of the Ethanol Committee’s current initiatives,
including work on aviation grade ethanol, E-diesel, E-85 and consumer
education programs.
Due in part to the grassroots lobbying efforts of NCGA and checkoff-funded
market development and research programs, ethanol production has
more than doubled in the last five years, Corzine said.
“The grassroots development of this industry is really remarkable,” he
said. “Corn was instrumental in building the ethanol market
and corn technology will continue to play an important role in
the future of the industry.”
Meeting attendees
also heard a legislative update from Bob Dinneen, president of
the
Renewable Fuels Association. Martha Schlicher,
director of the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center at Southern
Illinois University—Edwardsville, gave a status report on
research projects currently under way at the pilot plant.
Corzine said another highlight of the meeting was a discussion
led by representatives from Caterpillar Inc., the Gas Technology
Institute and Argonne National Laboratory on ethanol-to-hydrogen
research. The meeting concluded with a session facilitated by John
Deere Co. on moving toward commercialization with E-diesel.
Corzine said NCGA and the GEC share some of the same ideas for
the future of ethanol, and the association looks forward to working
with the coalition to expand opportunities for corn growers and
ethanol producers.
“If you look at where most of the governors who belong to
this coalition are from, you see that the GEC and NCGA really have
the same constituents,” he said. “That’s why
it makes sense for us to work closer together in advancing the
ethanol industry. We were encouraged by the openness of the dialogue
at the meeting and look forward to continuing our communication
with the coalition.”