Unity: Growth Energy, RFA, NCGA seeking common policy ground as DC battle intensifies

In Washington, the National Corn Growers Association, Growth Energy, and the Renewable Fuels Association have huddled in the capital, reportedly seeking broad areas for co-operation and co-ordination of policy, with a focus on the VEETC ethanol tax credit, as the Congress comes closer to defining the budget and budget priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. The groups are aiming, minimally, to establish an agreement on the policy supports required for the next three to five years to support the convesion from fossil fuels and towards biofueks mandated under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

The NCGA has been convening a series of meetings between RFA, Growth Energy, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) and NCGA in recent weeks. The groups last fall agreed to a reduced corn ethanol tax credit, followed by conversion of the funding toward a conbination of infrastructure investments and producer credits.

The Digest ran a profile of a meeting in Washington last week that attracted 70 companies, as well as leadership from BIO, the Algal Biomass Organization and the Advanced Biofuels Association. That meeting was focused on define areas for unification of the biofuels industry behind key policies that will fisted continued development of the emerging industry.

“We are getting annihilated here,” said one Hill-based biofuels insider, who did not wish to be identified due to the sensitivity of current negotiations. “Some of these associations have been here and have histories with each other going back decades, some of which make it difficult for them to work together. But we are seeing them start to come together.”

The Digest will continue to track unification efforts as the Congress nears decisions for the fiscal year as well as advancing towards a comprehensive energy policy. Last week, President Obama called for the establishment of a long-term energy policy as the US and other advanced industrial nations struggle with the rapid rise in the price of imported oil.