FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCGA Hails Senate Passage of Energy Bill
Calls Senate Action One of the Most Significant Votes on Energy Policy  

ST. LOUIS (July 29, 2005) -- Calling Senate passage of the energy bill containing a 7.5-billion-gallon renewable fuels standard (RFS) “one of the most significant votes on national energy policy in over a decade,” National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Leon Corzine today thanked the Senate for its swift action. The bipartisan bill passed 74-26 and now heads to President George W. Bush for his signature.

Corn growers have championed for the RFS for five years, Corzine said, adding the 7.5 billion gallon RFS will advance the ethanol industry, provide potential increases to farm income, foster economic and job growth in rural communities, increase potential gains for U.S. feed exports, and decrease the nation’s dangerous reliance on crude oil and gasoline imports.
 
“Not since 1992 has the United States Congress enacted a comprehensive national energy policy.  We are delighted that this legislation promotes more diverse and domestically based energy sources and we are particularly happy that this bill will expand the use of domestic renewable fuels,” said Corzine. “Everyone wins with the Energy Policy Act of 2005.”

The RFS schedule calls for 4 billion gallons of ethanol being blended into the nation’s fuel supply in 2006, increasing to 7.5 billion gallons by 2012.

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The National Corn Growers Association’s mission is to create and increase opportunities for corn growers.  NCGA represents nearly 33,000 members, 45 affiliated state organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs. For more information, log on to www.ncga.com.