With Renewable Fuel Standard reform rumblings coming from the U.S. House of Representatives in the past couple of weeks, Fuels America, http://www.fuelsamerica.org, is launching a television advertising campaign on this inauguration week to remind President-elect Donald Trump of his previous stated support for the RFS and the farmers it supports.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has a new chairman in Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, a noted critic of the RFS. Last week Walden was quoted by Bloomberg News as saying reforming the biofuels mandate will be one of the committee’s priorities this year.
Last year legislation was offered in Congress to cap corn ethanol at 9.7%, drawing opposition from biofuels interest groups.
Along the way much has been made in agriculture circles about a number of Trump cabinet nominees and their anti-ethanol positions, including EPA administrator nominee Scott Pruitt, Rick Perry, Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Department of Energy, and others.
Although U.S. senators from the Midwest have met with Pruitt in recent weeks and came away assured the EPA would continue to support the RFS, the advertising buy from Fuels America — a coalition of a number of biofuels groups — reminds Trump of a number of statements he made about rural America and ethanol during the recent campaign.
“The nation’s top renewable fuel advocates are celebrating inauguration week with a new television ad highlighting President-elect Donald Trump’s vocal support for jobs in the biofuels sector and offering thanks for his steadfast leadership,” a news release from the groups states.
A new television spot is set to begin airing Wednesday during MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program.
The spot features footage of Trump proclaiming “family farms are the backbone of this country” and promising to “protect the Renewable Fuels Standard.” In the ad the group thanks Trump for his support saying his “leadership will support jobs and bring America closer to true energy independence.”
Brent Erickson, executive vice president of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, or BIO, said in a statement Tuesday his group appreciates the incoming administration’s support.
“Much like the President-elect, America’s biofuel sector has shattered expectations, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs in areas of the country left behind by other manufacturing sectors,” Erickson said. “President-elect Trump’s commitment to the Renewable Fuel Standard will drive economic growth across the country, creating jobs and strengthening our energy security. These are goals every American can share, and we want to show the president-elect that his support is sincerely appreciated.”
Bob Dinneen, president and chief executive officer of the Renewable Fuels Association: “Donald Trump’s campaign united millions of voters who care deeply about America’s leadership on clean, homegrown energy. Strong support for the RFS will drive billions in new investments and ensure that consumers don’t have to choose between low prices and clean, homegrown fuels. We’re grateful for the president-elect’s support and urge him to stand strong against those who seek to undermine the single most effective clean energy policy working to lower our dependence on oil.”
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