WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Tom Buis, co-chairman of Growth Energy, joined Agriculture Secretary Vilsack in Florida to announce the state recipients of competitive, matching federal grants to support infrastructure that will increase the retail delivery of renewable biofuels. Following the announcement, Tom Buis issued the following statement:
“I would like to thank Secretary Vilsack for his unwavering support of the renewable fuels industry and for the invitation to join him today for this important announcement regarding the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership grants to Florida and 20 other states that were selected for this program.
“Just six months ago, this was an idea on a piece of paper. Today, we are seeing firsthand the implementation of this program to increase market access for cleaner, homegrown, renewable fuels. The speed with which this program has been implemented clearly demonstrates that USDA and its state and private sector partners can indeed make good things happen.
“There is no greater champion for the renewable fuels industry than Secretary Vilsack. He knows that by using homegrown American fuels, we are creating jobs that cannot be outsourced, improving our environment and cleaning the air we breathe, all while reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels. Secretary Vilsack understands that this industry is helping rural America experience a renaissance in innovation, job creation, development and economic growth, which has had a profound ripple effect across the entire country and has provided consumers with a choice of a less expensive, higher performing fuel.
“The Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership is helping us to further leverage industry funds to gain measurable market access in a far timelier manner than we could accomplish without the help Secretary Vilsack and the Obama Administration is providing. This funding coupled with matching funds from private partners, a number of participating will result in around 5,000 new ‘flex pumps’ installed over the next year or so. This program provides the mechanisms to allow for market access to truly give American drivers a choice in the motor fuel marketplace and break the near monopoly the oil industry has on transportation fuel.
“Again, I would like to thank Secretary Vilsack for his stalwart support of the American ethanol industry and for making this program a reality.”
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About Growth Energy
Growth Energy represents the producers and supporters of ethanol who feed the world and fuel America in ways that achieve energy independence, improve economic well-being and create a healthier environment for all Americans now. For more information, please visit us at www.GrowthEnergy.org, follow us on Twitter @GrowthEnergy or connect with us on Facebook.