IL CORN SUBMITS ETHANOL COMMENTS TO ENERGY & COMMERCE COMMITTEE

Lindsay Mitchell

Apr 05, 2013  |  Today's News

The number one stated goal in the RFS2 legislation was to reduce our dependence on imported oil to make our country more energy independent and more secure. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), our oil imports have decreased from 60 percent of our total usage to 45 percent. This was part of the message that Illinois Corn Growers Association tried to drive home to Congress today.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee requested comments on a white paper about the blend wall and fuel compatibility, the first requested comments in a series of comments that the public and industry will be asked to submit. Through this process, organizations on both sides of the issues will have their opinions heard and some important issues will be addressed.

The Illinois Corn Growers Association, as well as Illinois Renewable Fuels Association and the Illinois Farm Bureau who all joined in the comments submitted today, will continue to submit comments related to the ethanol industry to Congressman Fred Upton, Chairman of the Committee, and Congressman Henry Waxman, Ranking Member. From Illinois, Congressman John Shimkus has considerable seniority within the committee and Congressman Rush, Kinzinger, and Schakowsky are members.

The end goal is to allow all opinions to be heard about the pros and cons of corn-based ethanol production in the U.S. As the House Energy and Commerce Committee processes the comments and begins to make decisions, corn farmers may need to call members of Congress to be sure that the voice of agriculture is sufficiently heard.

Stay tuned!