Poet's Jeff Broin to meet with heads of USDA, EPA to talk renewable energy

The Republic - Columbus, IN

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

April 19, 2011 - 5:15 am

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The chief executive of a Sioux Falls ethanol company will meet with the federal officials Tuesday to discuss the renewable energy industry.

Poet's Jeff Broin will meet with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and other industry officials late Tuesday morning at the REG Newton Biorefinery in Newton, Iowa.

Poet says the group will discuss how the ethanol and biodiesel industries will grow to meet additional U.S. goals for renewable fuel use and create more green jobs in rural America.

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Nelson, Farm Bureau say EPA actions endanger state's ag industry

Grand Island Independent
Published: Saturday, September 25, 2010 9:47 PM CDT

Both U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Nebraska Farm Bureau have recently expressed concern over a series of actions and proposals by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concerning agriculture.

Nelson recently brought up his concerns at a Senate hearing with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. Nebraska Farm Bureau is asking the state’s congressional delegation to work with their colleagues to halt EPA’s “non-stop regulatory assault on the state’s farmers and ranchers and their counterparts nationwide.”

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E15 ruling due late summer

Des Moines Register
Blog post by Philip Brasher • pbrasher@dmreg.com • March 3, 2010

The Environmental Protection Agency is on track to say by late this summer whether high rates of ethanol can be blended into gasoline, according to Administrator Lisa Jackson. The current ethanol limit for conventional cars is 10 percent. The ethanol industry asked the EPA to raise that to 15 percent. The agency has been considering allowing the higher limit for newer cars and trucks.

Jackson told a Senate subcommittee today that the Energy Department was expected to wrap up in April or May its testing of the impact of higher ethanol blends on engines. The EPA will then use those results in making its decision on the blend level.

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Lawmakers back hiking ethanol-gas blends

PJStar.com (Peoria Journal Star, Peoria, IL)
By KAREN McDONALD (kmcdonald@pjstar.com)
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
Posted Dec 16, 2009 @ 10:06 PM

Schock, Hare join others in call to increase biofuel wall to 15 percent now

PEORIA — A bipartisan coalition of members of Congress questions the Environmental Protection Agency's recent decision to delay increasing the ethanol blend wall in gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent.

U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, along with six of his colleagues sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson this week. Their letter said the EPA's decision inhibits their ability to improve the quality of fuels and help the nation realize energy independence.

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President Obama Issues Presidential Directive to USDA to Expand Access to Biofuels; USDA, EPA and DOE to Form Biofuels Interagency Working Group

Grainnet.com
Date Posted: May 5, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC—President Obama issued a presidential directive May 5 to Secretary Tom Vilsack to aggressively accelerate the investment in and production of biofuels.

On a conference call with Energy Secretary Stephen Chu and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, Vilsack also announced that he will help lead an unprecedented interagency effort to increase America's energy independence and spur rural economic development.

"President Obama's announcement today demonstrates his deep commitment to establishing a permanent biofuels industry in America," said Vilsack.

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