National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Chairman Ken McCauley joined House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) in a press conference today in support of a strong Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in the energy bill under consideration by Congress.
 
Members at the press conference included a geographically diverse group of renewable fuels advocates, including: Reps. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.), Dennis Moore (D-Kan.), Melissa Bean (D-Ill.), Timothy Mahoney (D-Fla.), and Jay Inslee (D-Wash.).
In his remarks, McCauley urged Congress to pass an energy bill that will benefit all of agriculture.  “The National Corn Growers Association is pleased to see the inclusion of a robust RFS in the energy bill, specifically 15 billion gallons for grain-based ethanol.  We encourage Congress to pass an energy bill and send a comprehensive package to the president.  Rural America needs an energy bill now!”
McCauley noted that an increased RFS ensures a steady demand for corn. He said corn growers can meet the growing demand for the crop. “We looked into our crystal ball and actually saw that we could do 15 billion gallons of ethanol from corn and still have enough left to provide food, feed, fuel and exports to feed the rest of the world.”
Peterson said he is confident there will be an energy bill signed by the end of the year.
Corn Board Member Dave Nelson also attended the event.
Meanwhile, in a letter released today, NCGA joined other agriculture and industry groups to thank House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House members for their commitment to an expanded RFS as part of a more sustainable energy policy for America.
The groups noted that there is an urgent need to quickly pass the energy bill. “The energy bill before Congress today chooses the more sustainable path,” the letter said.  “It creates a solid foundation for grain-derived ethanol to continue to grow, and it provides the necessary signal to the marketplace to motivate significant new investment in second-generation biofuels (cellulosic ethanol, biomass-based diesel and other advanced biofuels.”

Click here to read the letter in its entirety.

Click here to hear McCauley’s remarks at the news conference.