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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Mimi Ricketts, NCGA, 636-733-9004
Rhondalee Dean-Royce, NCGA, Washington, D.C., 202-628-1933
NCGA Applauds
Introduction of 6 Billion Gallon RFS Legislation
ST. LOUIS (March
11, 2005) -- The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today applauded
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Chair James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Sens. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) and
Kit Bond (R-Mo.) for introducing legislation that establishes a Renewable
Fuels Standard (RFS) requiring 6 billion gallons of renewable fuels
be blended into the nation’s fuel supply annually by 2012. The
measure would significantly increase the contribution of ethanol and
biodiesel to the U.S. fuel supply.
“NCGA congratulates
the senators and their diligent staffs for beginning the debate on the
RFS at 6 billion gallons, a 20 percent increase over the last Congress’
RFS number,” said NCGA President Leon Corzine. “We recognize
this is only the first step in the lengthy legislative process to get
a comprehensive energy bill to the president’s desk this year.
We will work to ensure that RFS legislation is successfully passed out
of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW).
“Introduction
of the RFS is proof our legislators are getting serious about this nation’s
energy crisis,” Corzine added. “Consumers are frustrated
with higher gas prices and the worsening air quality that results from
increased oil consumption. This is an important step toward remedying
these problems, and we’re hopeful Congress will finally be able
to send an energy bill to the president this year.”
NCGA Ethanol Committee
Chair Daryl Haack noted the senators have started the process on a positive
note by increasing the RFS number and advancing the implementation schedule.
Yet, much work remains to be done, he said.
“Congress
has acknowledged that the U.S. ethanol industry’s production capacity
is growing at a pace that could not have been imagined in 2001 when
the original RFS agreement was reached,” Haack said. “NCGA
will continue to push for a higher number on the Senate floor and in
conference with the House to further reflect the extraordinary growth
of our domestic corn-based ethanol industry.”
NCGA will work with
the senators and others to make additional improvements to the bill.
“Our first
goal is to ensure a bill is successfully passed out of the Senate Environment
and Public Works Committee, but that isn’t our end goal,”
said David Gillen, a South Dakota grower and member of NCGA’s
Public Policy Action Team. “Our end goal is to secure final passage
by Congress of a comprehensive energy bill that includes an RFS, and
get the bill to the president’s desk this year. With oil and natural
gas prices rising so dramatically, our nation must have sound energy
policy enacted into law.”
Reports by the Energy
Information Agency note the ethanol industry produced a record 3.4 billion
gallons in 2004, created more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs,
reduced gasoline prices, cut crude oil imports, increased farm income,
and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
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The National Corn Growers Association mission is to create and increase
opportunities for corn growers. NCGA represents nearly 33,000 members,
26 affiliated state corn grower organizations and hundreds of thousands
of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs. |