Agricultural News
NCBA supports legislation that allows states to opt out of corn ethanol mandate
Wed, 01 Jun 2011 8:48:19 CDT
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) threw its weight behind the Fuel Feedstock Reduction Act, which amends the Clean Air Act to allow states to opt out of the corn ethanol portion of the renewable fuel standard (RFS) and to broaden eligibility of the cellulosic biofuels carve out by redefining "cellulosic biofuels" as "next generation biofuels" to allow non-ethanol sources of renewable fuel. NCBA President Bill Donald said this legislation is a big step toward leveling the playing field for a bushel of corn.
"NCBA member-passed policy supports our nation's commitment to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and that includes ethanol. But we don't support propping up a 30-year-old industry that should be able to stand on its own two feet with mandates and subsidies," Donald said. "Allowing states to opt out of the RFS and expanding eligibility for the cellulosic ethanol carve out applies some much needed common sense to renewable energy policy. It's time to take the training wheels off of the corn-based ethanol industry and we urge all members of Congress to support this bill."
The Fuel Feedstock Reduction Act, S. 1085 and H.R. 2009, was introduced in the Senate by James Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and in the House by Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.), Dan Boren (D-Okla.), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Jim Moran (D-Va.). According to the legislation, if a state legislature votes to opt out of the corn-ethanol portion of the RFS and the state's governor signs the bill into law, the Environmental Protection Agency would reduce the national corn-based ethanol mandate by the national gasoline consumption percentage that is attributable to that state.
In addition to allowing states to opt out of the corn-based ethanol portion of the RFS, S. 1085 and H.R. 2009 would redefine cellulosic biofuel as next generation biofuel. Donald said the new "feedstock neutral" definition will allow the development of non-ethanol advanced biofuels.
"Cattlemen play by the rules of the marketplace and we believe it's time for our friends in the corn-based ethanol industry to do the same," Donald said. "With the high prices and tight supplies for corn that we're seeing today, all we're asking is to level the playing field for all end users of corn. Congress should pass this legislation and shift our nation's renewable energy policy to one that is market-based."
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