Biofuel Groups Back Ag Provisions in Build Back Better Act

By Chris Clayton

Growth Energy, the National Biodiesel Board, the National Corn Growers, the National Farmers Union, and the Renewable Fuels Association on Monday announced their support for provisions and agricultural portions of the Build Back Better Act.

In a letter to Senate Agriculture Committee Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott, D-Ga., the groups wrote that the Build Back Better Act “will build new markets for farmers and biofuel producers and help lower the carbon intensity of agriculture.”

The House passed the $1.7 trillion reconciliation bill on Friday and the Senate is expected to act on it in December.

“One of the most pressing challenges facing biofuel producers is ensuring that consumers have consistent access to higher-level ethanol and biodiesel blends, which are lower carbon and lower cost than petroleum fuels. The Biofuel Infrastructure and Agriculture Product Market Expansion provision in the BBB Act helps address this issue and contains much-needed funding to ensure consumers have access to these fuels,” thee groups wrote, pointing to $1 billion allocated to upgrade refueling and distribution infrastructure meant for higher blends of ethanol.

The biofuel and agricultural groups also pointed to lifecycle analysis illustrating how improved farm practices continue to drive down the carbon intensity of farming, and therefore the overall carbon intensity of biofuels.