Agricultural News
Novozymes Applauds $1 Billion House Farm Bill Proposal to Grow Energy, Renewable Chemical Industries
Fri, 07 Jun 2013 11:48:10 CDT
Novozymes applauded the introduction of a new House bill with about $1.3 billion in funding for some of the nation's most critical renewable fuel and chemical programs. This marks the third time in three weeks Congress has supported these initiatives. These programs help drive energy and job-creation in America's rural, farming and bio-manufacturing hubs.
"This technology is changing people's lives: It's creating opportunity for farmers and communities and new economic and intellectual muscle for America. That's why renewables have momentum," said Adam Monroe, Novozymes Americas Regional President. "We're ready to keep the momentum going with investment, putting steel in the ground and creating jobs. We need stable policy and the leadership shown by the Representatives on this bill highlights the continued support these programs have in both Congressional chambers."
The Rural Energy Investment Act of 2013 was introduced by Reps. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) to reauthorize many of the current Farm Bill's successful Energy Title programs and provide mandatory funding for the Biorefinery Assistance Program, the Biomass Crop Assistance Program and the Biobased Markets Program. The Farm bill's energy title funds USDA programs that help jumpstart additional biorefinery construction for advanced biofuels and renewable chemicals, dedicated energy crop feedstock development and consumer demand of biobased products - all encouraging further commercialization of the renewable industry. Eight-hundred-sixty growers in 12 states plant 59,000 acres of new energy crops a year with the assistance of Biomass Crop Assistance Program, according to the Biotechnology Industry Association. The bill also contains funding to grow the renewable chemicals industry, creating more opportunity for new jobs at the country's growing biorefinery manufacturing hubs.
Senator Al Franken (D-MN) has introduced a similar measure and last month the Senate Agriculture Committee included an $800 million energy title as part of the chambers' Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013. The Senate is debating the larger measure now.
In May 2012, Novozymes inaugurated a new biofuels enzyme manufacturing plant in Blair, Nebraska, the largest and most sophisticated plant of its kind in the United States. With $200 million in private investment, the facility created 400 construction jobs and 100 permanent jobs.
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