WASHINGTON, DC — Today, April 22, marks the 45th anniversary of Earth Day. For 45 years, concerned citizens have been taking action to help ensure our planet and our environment are protected for generations to come. But long before the first Earth Day was recognized, the American farmer was sustainably providing food, feed, fiber and fuel for Americans and citizens across the globe. As true stewards of the land, American farmers have ensured we will always be able to grow the crops we need for food AND fuel. In recognition of Earth Day and the American farmers’ contribution to sustainability, Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, issued the following statement:
“For hundreds of years, America’s farmers have been working our land and providing the country and the world with high quality food, feed, fiber and fuel. These same farmers are committed to meeting the challenges of the 21st century with both cutting-edge innovations and a deep-rooted respect for the Earth. Farmers know that protecting the environment and sustaining the resources they use is critical to our current way of life and their livelihood. Furthermore, they understand the commitment that must be made must be made for future generations to continue their legacy and thrive.
“The American farmer is also the backbone of the renewable fuels industry. America’s biofuel industry is producing the cleanest fuels in the world, and thanks to American farmers’ hard work and commitment to our planet, we are making even bigger leaps forward right now. We are reducing our dangerous dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating new American jobs that cannot be outsourced.
“Today, on Earth Day, we are proud that our industry will keep getting cleaner, keep farming more efficiently and keep discovering new ways to fuel America with biomass and waste products that represent a smarter, cleaner, homegrown alternative to foreign oil.
“There is no one more committed to protecting the Earth’s resources than America’s farmers. Adopting new innovation and stewardship practices to protect the Earth and efficiently feed AND fuel the world is the goal of America’s farmers, and they’re just getting started.”
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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.