Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen expects Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson will deny the RFS waiver request from a coalition of meat and poultry organizations. While he understands the hardships facing the ag industry this summer – he says waiving the RFS won’t bring the type of relief the livestock groups are seeking. In fact – because ethanol plants also produce a high protein feed – he says limiting ethanol production will only further complicate drought related feed issues and costs. Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis says the higher corn prices facing livestock and poultry users are a result of Mother Nature – not ethanol. Trying to blame ethanol – he says – is disingenuous and absurd. The National Corn Growers Association believes it’s premature for a waiver of the RFS provisions. NCGA President Garry Niemeyer says it’s too early to determine this year’s final corn supply.
Buis and Dinneen both note the market has already shown it will adjust to the current situation. There has been a decrease in ethanol production – but they say volume requirements of the RFS can still be met. Niemeyer says a surplus of ethanol and RFS credits can greatly offset ethanol’s impact on the corn supply.
Source: NAFB News Service