NCGA Applauds Passage of RFS through Senate EPW Committee (03-16-05)

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today applauds the passage of the Reliable Fuels Act (S. 606) by the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. This legislation would establish a national Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) requiring 6 billion gallons of renewable fuels be blended into our nation’s fuel supply annually by 2012.

“Today’s passage of S. 606 is a sign of true leadership and moves forward the process of passing a comprehensive energy bill that includes an RFS,” said NCGA President Leon Corzine. “We appreciate the work done by Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) to begin the RFS debate at 6 billion gallons. The first step is now complete – getting RFS legislation passed out of the EPW Committee – and we can now move the legislative process to the next level.”

Corzine noted that NCGA’s key legislative priority is to pass a comprehensive energy bill that includes the RFS. Citing rising prices and unprecedented U.S. for energy prices and our nation’s increasing dependency on foreign oil, he said the immediate passage of an energy bill with an RFS should also be a priority for Congress and the administration.

Theresa Schmalsof, a corn grower from Illinois and member of NCGA’s Corn Board, said she anticipates the association will continue to work with lawmakers to ensure the energy bill with the RFS becomes a reality. “NCGA looks forward to opportunities to increase the RFS number, further advance the schedule and make necessary changes to the credit trading program as the energy bill works its way to the Senate floor,” she said.

The bill will be sent to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to be included in comprehensive energy legislation.

Corzine concluded, “We look forward to working with Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) and the committee as they craft a comprehensive energy bill over the next few months,” he said. “We fully expect the bill to include RFS language that further increases the gallon number and makes additional fixes to the bill.”