Domestic Fuel

Delegates to the Republican National Convention this week have adopted a party platform that would essentially end the Renewable Fuels Standard passed by Congress and signed by the president in December as part of comprehensive energy legislation. However, they do support the development of cellulosic ethanol and increased flex-fuel vehicles on the road.

Under the agriculture section, the platform talks about food versus fuel concerns and states that the “U.S. government should end mandates for ethanol and let the free market work.”

Under the energy section, the platform states that we “must continue to develop alternative fuels,
such as biofuels, especially cellulosic ethanol, and hasten their technological advances to next-generation production” and says that “because alternative fuels are useless if vehicles cannot use them, we must move quickly to flexible fuel vehicles.”

The Renewable Fuels Association expressed concern about the Republican platform. RFA President Bob Dinneen called it “inconceivable that the Republican Party would adopt a platform that limits the energy options available to the American people.”

“Fortunately, many leaders in the Republican Party, including the President of the United States, understand the importance of a strong renewable fuels policy,” said Dinneen. “Regardless of the outcome of this year’s elections, the American ethanol industry stands ready to continue working with Congress to provide a clean, safe and secure alternative to foreign oil and gasoline.”

RFA will be among many organizations and companies participating in an AgNite event in conjunction with the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis Tuesday evening, sponsored by the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council. The event is designed to celebrate America’s food, agriculture and energy industries and educate delegates and other attendees about their importance to the nation. Stay tuned for reports from the event here on Domestic Fuel.

The Minnesota Agri-Growth Council is hosting a celebration of America’s food, agriculture and energy industries during the second night of the Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities.

AgNite is a non-partisan event independent from the RNC being coordinated by the council with the help of numerous sponsors, including the ethanol industry under the auspices of the Renewable Fuels Association. The companies and organizations will have exhibits and information available for the thousands of visitors expected, including delegates and policy makers attending the convention. The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council has provided the Team Ethanol show car for display on the floor during the AgNite event. Minnesota is the nation’s fourth largest ethanol producing state, with 17 plants producing 1.1 billion gallons per year.

Organizers are expecting as many as 4,000 people to attend the invitation-only event which is being held Tuesday, Sept. 2, from 8 pm to 2 am in the historic Minneapolis Depot.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain visited the Iowa State Fair Friday, shook a lot of hands, but probably didn’t make a lot of friends in corn country when he clearly stated his opposition to subsidizing ethanol production.

“My friends, we will disagree on a specific issue and that’s healthy,” McCain said during a Des Moines Register forum address at the fairgrounds. “I believe in renewable fuels. I don’t believe in ethanol subsidies, but I believe in renewable fuels.”

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Craig Lang stood beside McCain during his speech and applauded as McCain discussed his views on energy policy, despite the candidates remarks about ethanol in the nation’s top producing state.

McCain touted his “Lexington Project” strategy to achieve energy independence. “It’s got to be wind, tide, solar, nuclear,” he said of his plan, which also includes support for cellulosic ethanol and increasing the number of flex-fuel vehicles on the road.