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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact:
Mimi
Ricketts, Director of Marketing Communications, 636/733-9004, ext.112
Cory Gardner, 202-628-7001
Corn
Growers Praise Presient Bush for Pro-Ethanol National Energy Plan
WASHINGTON (November
28, 2001) - President George W. Bush, in remarks made
to Farm Journal's Sixth Annual Forum in Washington, DC, emphasized the
importance of ethanol to national security, the environment and the
farm
economy. After praising farmers for representing and preserving the
values
of the United States, the president gave a strong endorsement of renewable
fuels and encouraged the Senate to pass a national energy bill.
During the pro-ethanol
speech, President Bush stated, "I also want to
improve our homeland security and our economy by having a national energy
plan. I want to thank the Farm Journal Forum for emphasizing the importance
of ethanol and biofuels. These fuels are gentle on the environment.
They
are fuels that can be renewed year after year, and fuels that can expand
our
farm economy. These fuels are made right here in America, so they can't
be
threatened by any foreign power."
President Bush continually
reiterated his support for ethanol, adding,
"Ethanol and biofuels are fuels of the future for this country.
Since the
beginning of my administration, I have strongly supported ethanol and
biofuels. And the energy plan I sent to Congress back in the spring
supports
biofuels."
"President
Bush was right on target in his remarks today," said Boyd Smith,
a York, Neb., corn farmer and chairman of the National Corn Growers
Association Ethanol Marketing Committee. "The president echoed
NCGA's long
standing position that renewable fuels - like ethanol - promote the
national
interest, and are good for both the environment and the economy, while
enhancing our national security."
Noting that one
of NCGA's top priorities is inclusion of a Renewable Fuels
Standard in energy legislation, Smith went on to say, "With support
like
this from the president we are hopeful we will see legislation expanding
the
role of renewable fuels in our national energy policy."
It is estimated
that in 2001, ethanol production will use 675 million
bushels of corn, producing nearly 1.8 billion gallons of the renewable
fuel.
For more information on the National Corn Growers Association and Ethanol,
log onto http://www.ncga.com.
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