There is strength in numbers and so to combat the forces pushing for suspension of the Renewable Fuel Standard, organizations including DuPont, Growth Energy and Renewable Fuels Association, the national corn and wheat growers and others with a stake in renewables have initiated a campaign to protect RFS and the benefits of renewable fuel.
The new coalition is Fuels America and one of its spokesmen is former congressman Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of BIO, Biotechnology Industry Organization.
“It’s a multifaceted campaign,” he explained. “It’s a campaign in which we are in for the long run. Our ultimate goal is to make sure that every member of congress, every critical person in this administration and whichever administration takes over next year, as well as governors and other policy makers at the state level, understand that the Renewable Fuel Standard is critical to America’s leadership, brings the benefits that it has brought us, and that any thought of undoing would do long and lasting, and essentially unnecessary harm to what is the bright future that we envision continuing to create through renewable fuels.”
EPA is currently considering a request to waive RFS, but Adam Monroe, President of Novozymes North America, a coalition member, says RFS is working and should remain in place.
“Just the process of reopening a pretty rock solid policy as far as we see it, is something that really makes us hesitate, and that’s why the basic position is just keep what we have. It’s working and it’ll continue to work and we’ll keep producing the kinds of results that we are.”
Fuels America says halting RFS would have serious consequences for not only rural communities but renewable technology innovators. Jim Imbler, President & CEO of ZeaChem in Lakewood, Colorado explains.
“We’re right now putting together the project financing for our first commercial plant and the first question investors ask is, is the government going to waffle on this thing. there’s a lack of trust in any government policy and I think one of the great things about the RFS is it’s actually a long term policy that fits with the investment community rather than a one or two year evergreen that you never know. So this is one of the most significant policies I’ve seen that allows investors to make long term decisions, because when you’re building concrete and steel that’s not an overnight thing.”
ZeaChem is a developer of efficient biorefineries for production of advanced biofuels and bio-based chemicals.
The Fuels America campaign will be a national effort, including advertising, beginning in Washington, DC and several states, including Colorado, Ohio, Delaware and Montana. Each state will have its own online platform reachable through FuelsAmerica.org and feature the stories of renewable fuel innovators and communities with a stake in maintaining the RFS.
There is a website for the coalition, FuelsAmerica.org, and they’re on Twitter @FuelsAmerica.[audio:https://www.hoosieragtoday.com//wp-content/uploads//2012/09/Launch-of-Fuels-America-coalition.mp3|titles=Launch of Fuels America coalition]
Fuels America members include:
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Abengoa Bioenergy
ACORE
Advanced Ethanol Council
American Coalition for Ethanol
American Security Project
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
DuPont
Growth Energy
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Corn Growers Association
National Farmers Union
National Sorghum Producers
Novozymes
POET
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA)