NCGA
Urges Senate Energy Committee to Adopt 8-Billion Gallon RFS (5-25-05)
The National
Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Monday signed on to a letter to
members of the Senate Energy Committee urging them to adopt an 8-billion
gallon renewable fuels standard (RFS) as part of their comprehensive
energy legislation. The committee is expected today to consider
the amendment introduced by Sens. Jim Talent (R-MO), Tim Johnson
(D-SD) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND).
The RFS amendment
would create an 8-billion gallon national RFS to be phased in by
2012, beginning with a 4 billion gallon standard in 2006. The renewable
fuels would be produced mainly from ethanol and biodiesel.
The letter,
sent by a coalition of agriculture, consumer, auto, union, and renewable
fuel producers stated: “Already, the U.S. ethanol industry
has the capacity to produce more than 3.8 billion gallons, and 17
production facilities and three major expansions under construction
will add an additional 900 million gallons of capacity.
“The Talent,
Johnson, and Dorgan RFS amendment represents a historic opportunity
to put the nation on a path of greater energy independence and national
security,” the letter continues. “Increasing the amount
of domestically produced biofuels is supported by more than 25 national
security leaders as a vital component of any strategy to reduce
our foreign oil dependence. In a recent letter to the President,
these leaders urged him to ‘launch a major new initiative
to curtail U.S. consumption through improved efficiency and the
rapid development and deployment of advanced biomass, alcohol and
other available petroleum fuel alternatives.’
“Today’s record-high gasoline prices are hurting consumers,
and record petroleum imports are aggravating our trade imbalance
and slowing economic growth. According to a recently released report
by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), the increased use of
ethanol would help to reduce gasoline prices by as much as 8 cents
a gallon. The Talent, Johnson and Dorgan RFS amendment would maximize
the production and use of domestic renewable fuels like ethanol
and biodiesel to the benefit of consumers across the country.
The letter was signed by the Renewable Fuels Association, National
Corn Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, National
Biodiesel Board, American Soybean Association, American Coalition
of Ethanol, Environmental and Energy Study Institute, Carpenters
District Council of Greater St. Louis, Ethanol Producers and Consumers,
National Grain Sorghum Producers, National Association of Wheat
Growers, New Uses Council, National Barley Growers Association,
National Sunflower Association, U. S. Canola Association, National
Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Farmers Union, Consumer
Federation of America, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, and
John Deere.
To read the
letter in its entirety, click here.