-The Hagstrom Report
Michael Regan, secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality in North Carolina and President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee to be Environmental Protection Agency administrator, called National Corn Growers Association President Jon Doggett after the announcement of his nomination, AgWeb reported.
Doggett quoted Regan as saying he knows the importance of the Renewable Fuel Standard to the corn industry.
“That was really good to hear,” Doggett noted.
American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings said, “We congratulate Secretary Regan on his nomination to be EPA administrator and look forward to working with him to get the Renewable Fuel Standard back on track, clear regulatory hurdles to E15 and higher blends, and ensure corn ethanol is part of the solution to new policies designed to tackle climate change.
Agricultural and biofuels groups as well as farm state lawmakers are pleased that the new COVID relief package passed by Congress last night includes help for producers excluded from previous aid legislation.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) says relief includes the Paycheck Protection Program for Producers Act. “The bill also includes funding to allow the Department of Agriculture to provide additional assistance to ag producers who were dealing with a tough economy before the pandemic hit,” said Thune.
The bill explicitly makes producers of biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel eligible for USDA assistance, at the discretion of the secretary. “Biofuel producers have suffered from the drop in fuel demand during the pandemic and I hope the secretary will ensure that they are able to receive assistance,” Thune said. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) on COVID relief for agriculture :58
3 months ago in Agriculture tomr Photo: WNAX
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued the second round of grants available through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. American Coalition For Ethanol’s Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty is pleased USDA is moving ahead with it.
He says by getting more infrastructure out for higher ethanol blends it should help increase consumer usage of E-15.
Lamberty says by providing more ethanol to consumers it fits in well with the incoming President’s focus on addressing climate change and improving the environment.
In making the second round announcement Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said that ethanol and biofuels industries have positive impacts they deliver to consumers and farmers with an affordable, abundant and clean burning fuel.
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USDA Rural Development has announced it will open a new 30-day application period for the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive program on Dec. 21. The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and American Coalition for Ethanol say they are ready and willing to help retailers apply for the program.
The HBIIP aims to significantly increase the sales and use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel by expanding the infrastructure for renewable fuels derived from U.S. agricultural products. Investments made under HBIIP aim to help transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities convert to higher ethanol and biodiesel blends by sharing the costs related to the installation of fuel pumps, related equipment and infrastructure. Under the program, higher blends include ethanol blends of greater than 10 percent and biodiesel blends of greater than 5 percent.
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