Washington – Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, released the following statement on the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Subcommittee’s hearing on indirect land use change:
“The frustration expressed by House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson echoes our own concerns around the EPA’s inclusion of indirect land use change penalties against biofuels. Nearly all the Members of today’s hearing were highly skeptical of EPA’s decision to move forward with the indirect land use change component, because it is not based on universally confirmed science. The Presidential Directive on Biofuels issued yesterday instructs the Biofuels Interagency Working Group headed by Secretary Tom Vilsack and includes Secretary Steven Chu and Administrator Lisa Jackson to conduct peer-review of this issue before the rule becomes final. It is unfair to penalize American biofuels producers for land use decisions in other countries that they have no control over. The fact is land use decisions are enormously complicated and involve many factors that have nothing to do with renewable fuels, including changes in currency, monetary policy, export needs, productivity gains, and weather just to name a few. Meanwhile, the EPA has failed to examine the indirect effects of petroleum and gives gasoline an unfair advantage. The carbon emissions that result from protecting the oil supply in the Middle East could alone double the carbon footprint of foreign oil. The indirect land use change component of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 needs to be repealed. As we heard in today’s hearing, it’s clear it is not ready for inclusion in government regulations.”
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About Growth Energy
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.
Washington – Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, released the following statement on the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Subcommittee’s hearing on indirect land use change:
“The frustration expressed by House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson echoes our own concerns around the EPA’s inclusion of indirect land use change penalties against biofuels. Nearly all the Members of today’s hearing were highly skeptical of EPA’s decision to move forward with the indirect land use change component, because it is not based on universally confirmed science. The Presidential Directive on Biofuels issued yesterday instructs the Biofuels Interagency Working Group headed by Secretary Tom Vilsack and includes Secretary Steven Chu and Administrator Lisa Jackson to conduct peer-review of this issue before the rule becomes final. It is unfair to penalize American biofuels producers for land use decisions in other countries that they have no control over. The fact is land use decisions are enormously complicated and involve many factors that have nothing to do with renewable fuels, including changes in currency, monetary policy, export needs, productivity gains, and weather just to name a few. Meanwhile, the EPA has failed to examine the indirect effects of petroleum and gives gasoline an unfair advantage. The carbon emissions that result from protecting the oil supply in the Middle East could alone double the carbon footprint of foreign oil. The indirect land use change component of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 needs to be repealed. As we heard in today’s hearing, it’s clear it is not ready for inclusion in government regulations.”
# # #
About Growth Energy
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.