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Ag groups praise formation of Biofuels Interagency Working Group

Ag groupsare praising President Obama’s formation of a so-called Biofuels Interagency Working Group, which he says will increase energy independence.

The biofuels working group will be headed by Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and will include the EPA and the Department of Energy. Obamasays he wants the group to aggressively accelerate the investment in and production of biofuels.

National Corn Growers Association president Bob Dickey commends Obama for his commitment to the biofuels industry. And Bob Dineen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association,echoes those comments.

“President Obama is making clear once and for all that biofuels are critical to the nation’s economic, environmental and energy strength,” Dineen says. “Investments in biofuels, like ethanol, are creating green jobs here at home, reducingAmerica’s foreign oil dependence, and helping to meet our environmental goals. We are confident that this working group will further spur the momentum generated by America’s existing biofuels industry and deliver the promising next generation of biofuel technologies that are so close tocommercialization.”

Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, calls Obama’s action “a very positive development”.

“The federal government needs to coordinate how the RFS requirement for increasedrenewable fuels translates into actual use by consumers,” Shaw says. “The current E10 cap, lack of E85 retail infrastructure and biodiesel blending infrastructure, and the lack of a significant commitment to flexible fuel vehicle production poses a threat to RFS implementation unlessaddressed decisively in the near term.”

Also applauding the move is the Nebraska Corn Board. “The working group will help ensure that the advancement of ethanol and biofuels continues, which will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and help meet ourenvironmental goals,” says Kelly Brunkhorst, ag program manager for the Nebraska Corn Board.