No. 186 August 5, 2021
TOP STORY Infrastructure Week in Washington, D.C. This week in Washington, D.C., all eyes are on the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act, the bipartisan infrastructure bill otherwise known as BIF. For months, the Biden Administration has been pushing its flagship infrastructure legislation as a means it invest in America's roads and bridges, water infrastructure, and broadband. Beyond infrastructure, BIF also focuses on environmental priorities to reduce pollution and emissions across the board.
In its current form, this infrastructure legislation includes investments in projects like carbon capture, but it does not directly address or invest in the biofuels sector. This is why we at Growth Energy have been working constantly with our biofuels champions in Congress to include our policy priorities in the final bill. Our Congressional champions have been vocal in calling on the Biden Administration to include biofuels in the bill. Here is what some are saying: 
Rep. Cindy Axne (D-Iowa): "While I commend the White House and Senators for continuing to work toward creating bipartisan infrastructure legislation that can tackle issues ranging from aging bridges and roads to expanding access to high-speed internet, it's unacceptable to see that this agreement still does not include investments in a bipartisan, homegrown clean energy source: biofuels. "For months, I have been helping members of the administration, the Senate colleagues in the House understand the key advantages of biofuels -- from the fact that it's been proven to be more than twice as clean as fossil fuels to its support for our rural communities, agricultural economy, and hundreds of thousands of American jobs.
"While I am withholding my final decision on this agreement until there is a bill I can read, I will have strong reservations about supporting the final bill if there is no pathway for critical investments in our biofuels sector." Senators Thune, Grassley, Blunt, Moran, Fischer, Rounds, Ernst, Sasse, and Marshall: "We seek an audience to discuss the tremendous opportunity that biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel present to bolster affordable American energy, underpin a strong agriculture economy, and immediately lower transportation emissions using the existing consumer vehicle fleet and fueling infrastructure. Unfortunately, the promise of homegrown biofuels and our agriculture sector appear to be woefully 
underrepresented in your administration's energy, environmental, and transportation agenda." 
Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.): "I was disappointed not to see biofuels included in the initial bipartisan infrastructure framework, but rest assured that as conversations in Washington continue to focus on infrastructure investments and efforts to address climate change, I will continue to fight to ensure renewable fuels have a seat at the table. After all, they are road-ready solutions to support family farmers, generate economic growth in rural America, and tackle climate change. Now is the time to make sure they are part of the mix. If not, we will have missed an important opportunity as a nation to reduce carbon emissions immediately.
To stay updated on this and other action happening in Washington, follow Growth Energy on Twitter. We look forward to connecting!
WORKING FOR YOU IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS 180+ Call on Congress to Invest in Carbon Capture Projects IN COMMUNICATIONS Action Needed: Year-Round E15 IN OUR ASSOCIATION ICYMI: Growth Energy Welcomes Two New Associate Members
Indiana Ethanol Producers Association Celebrates Gov. Holcomb UPCOMING EVENTS
Indiana Corn Growers Association High Octane Fuel Summit September 16 (Indianapolis, IN)
Growth Energy Biofuels Summit September 20 - 23 (Washington, DC)
IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS 180+ Call on Congress to Invest in Carbon Capture Projects 
Almost 200 companies, labor unions, and policy and environmental advocacy groups sent a letter to Congress calling for meaningful investments in commercial scale carbon capture pilot projects and demonstration programs. We were proud to join in the effort as almost 50 ethanol plants across the country currently capture clean, pure carbon.
"We have the opportunity to rebuild and retool America’s domestic energy, industrial and manufacturing sectors in ways that put our economy on track to reach net-zero emissions by midcentury," wrote the coalition. "Carbon management must be central to achieving emissions reduction goals, while preserving and creating middle class jobs that pay family-sustaining wages, providing environmental and other benefits to communities, and supporting regional economies across our country." For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher. 
IN COMMUNICATIONS Action Needed: Year-Round E15 
We are full steam ahead in Washington, D.C., calling on policymakers to pass legislation to permanently lift outdated, seasonal restrictions on the sale of E15. The Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act (S.2239) and the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act (H.R.4410) would remedy the recent setback from the D.C. Circuit Court that would prevent drivers from accessing affordable, available fuel blends like E15.
We're counting on you to help us spread the word and tell Congress to pass legislation to allow year-round sales of E15 once and for all. Share this call to action on your social media and hold Congress accountable! For more information, please contact Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs Elizabeth Funderburk. IN OUR ASSOCIATION ICYMI: Growth Energy Welcomes Two New Associate Members In case you missed it, over the past couple of weeks we were pleased to welcome Commodity & Ingredient Hedging, LLC, and the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board as associate members of Growth Energy.
Commodity & Ingredient Hedging is a technology-based risk management firm that provides education and customized price risk management services to businesses affected by volatility in the agriculture commodities markets. Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board directs research, new product development, international marketing and education to expand the market opportunities and sales of Wisconsin corn. You can learn more about them here.
Welcome to Team Growth Energy!
Indiana Ethanol Producers Association Celebrates Gov. Holcomb 
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb understands the importance of biofuels to Hoosier farmers and our country's economy. To thank him for his support, the Indiana Ethanol Producers Association presented him with an American Ethanol racing helmet. Thank you, Gov. Holcomb, for your support! For more information, please contact Vice President of Membership Kelly Manning.
The Weekly Rundown is the weekly newsletter for Growth Energy's members. It is published weekly by the communications staff at Growth Energy. For more information, email team@growthenergy.org or visit our website GrowthEnergy.org. You're receiving this newsletter because you've subscribed to Growth Energy's The Weekly Rundown. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe instantly. Copyright © 2020 Growth Energy. |
