Biofuel trade groups defend Farm Bill energy title, RFS2

Biodiesel Magazine
By Erin Voegele April 11, 2012

Trade organizations representing many sectors of the biorefining industry, as well as other bioenergy stakeholders, are taking action on behalf of their members to encourage a strong energy title be included in the next Farm Bill. Biofuels trade organizations are also working to defend the RFS2 from a legal challenge initiated by the American Petroleum Institute.

Regarding support of the Farm Bill, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the Advanced Biofuels Association, the Advanced Ethanol Council, the Algal Biomass Organization, the American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association joined a coalition of 100 organizations to issue a letter to leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees asking for the reauthorization and funding of Farm Bill energy title programs.

“Congress can’t afford to wait to boost commercialization of advanced biofuels and revitalize rural America,” said Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section. “A strong energy title in the farm bill can do this and help new agricultural markets emerge and reduce the need for direct payments to farmers. Thanks to the energy title in past farm bills, advanced biofuel, biobased product and renewable chemical biorefineries are being developed across the United States.”

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