Growth Energy, Renewable Fuels Association offer support for Grassley invite to EPA leadership to visit a farm

In Iowa, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association offered support for Senator Charles Grassley in his efforts to invite EPA leadership to visit a farm during the lead up to finalizing the EPA rules on indirect land use that have thrown the biodiesel industry and first-generation ethanol into some disarray by creating an indirect land use change penalty high enough to knock them out of the the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Tom Buis of Growth Energy said: “We commend Senator Grassley’s efforts to provide government leaders whose work impacts rural America  the opportunity to visit a working farm.  We also encourage government officials to visit today’s modern ethanol plants to see firsthand how ethanol is boosting our energy independence, providing an alternative to foreign oil, creating jobs, and greening the environment.”

Matt Hartwig of the Renewable Fuels Association added, “We agree that it would be worthwhile for EPA officials to visit a farm and an ethanol plant to kick the tires. The RFA would be honored to assist Sen. Grassley in any way that is appropriate.”

Recently, EPA leadership indicated that they wouild “like to woprk something out” following Sen. Grassley’s invitation, which originally appeared in Biofuels Digest. The invitation was made after it was revealed in House testimony that senior EPA leader Margo Oge, overseeing the development of indirect land use change policy for EPA, had not visited a US farm in 41 years living in the US.

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

EPA officials to visit Senator Grassley’s farm on September 3rd

From Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa. "Late yesterday, I received word that officials from EPA, that they accepted my invitation to travel to Iowa.  Both Regina McCarthy and Margo Oge will be coming...

EPA official “who never visited a US farm” to join Sen Grassley in farm, biodiesel plant tour

In Iowa, EPA officials Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator of the Office of Air and Radiation, and Margo Oge, director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality, will come to Iowa for a first...

EPA officials visit a farm; will ’seeking first to understand’ lead to new era of high effectiveness at EPA?

[caption id="attachment_13608" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Margo Oge, EPA Director of Transportaiton and Air Quality, was one of two EPA officials who visited an Iowa farm this week. The v...

EPA leaders respond to Sen. Grassley’s invitation to visit a farm: “They would like to try and work something out”.

Readers of the Digest will remember that last Friday, we ran an exclusive interview with Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa in which the Senator invited the Director of the EPA's office of Transport...

Iowa Senator Grassley seeks auto makers’ support of E20 research; says Brazilian experience is critical

In Iowa, Senator Charles Grassley has written to auto manufacturers asking for their support of efforts to approve E20, by contributing to research on the imapct of E20 on engine performance. Grassley...

Growth Energy, ACE and RFA speakers to headline 5th Biofuels Financial Conference, June 24-25 in Minneapolis

The 5th Annual Biofuels Financial Conference will be held in Minneapolis on June 24 – 25, 2009, and will feature Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, Brian Jennings, Executive Director of the American Co...