U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with members of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) to discuss federal actions needed to help ethanol production in Illinois and nationally. Durbin has been a long-time supporter of biofuels production in Illinois. Attending the meeting was a representative from Big River Resources, which operates an ethanol plant in Galva, Illinois.
“Today, I sat down with members of the Renewable Fuels Association to hear their concerns about the current direction of federal policies that may cause great harm to yet another part of Illinois’ agriculture. As a longtime support of ethanol and biodiesel, I will continue to work to support these Illinois jobs,” said Durbin.
The topics of today’s meeting included the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Act, which would make the biofuel blend known as E15 available year-round. Congress almost passed this measure last December, but the provision was dropped after an intervention by billionaire Elon Musk, who owns competing technology. Other topics included having the Environmental Protection Agency update its annual targets for biofuel production without giving exemptions for oil companies and protecting a new tax credit for bio-based jet fuels having 50 percent less carbon emissions, creating a new market for Illinois farmers.
During their meeting, Durbin and RFA members also spoke about the impact of the Trump Administration’s 10 percent tariff on biofuels from Canada, which could cause a major export market for U.S. ethanol to be replaced by foreign competitors.
Photos of the meeting are available here.
Last week, Durbin joined 13 of his Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump warning against imposing tariffs as they threaten American farmers, ranchers, businesses, and consumers.
***Courtesy of Senator Dick Durbin***
