Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt (R) (center) signs the Missouri Renewable Fuels Standard into law on Wednesday at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis. The Missouri RFS is a 10 percent ethanol requirement and kicks in on Jan. 1, 2008.

NCGA Congratulates Missouri Corn Growers’ on Securing State RFS (7-6-06)

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) applauds the hard-working efforts of the Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA) in securing the Missouri Renewable Fuel Standard (MoRFS), signed into law Wednesday. The statewide standard will boost the availability and use of biofuels by requiring all gasoline sold in Missouri to contain 10 percent ethanol by 2008.

“There was a lot of time and effort devoted to making this legislation as effective as possible,” said MCGA President Terry Hilgedick, a corn producer from Hartsburg, Mo.  “The result is model legislation which ensures availability for a homegrown fuel and a market for the corn we produce. This statewide standard would not have been possible without the commitment of over 2,500 farm families that have invested in the ethanol industry and the thousands of others that are working together to strengthen and revitalize our rural communities. This team effort in a rapidly developing industry is something that benefits everyone.” 

The MoRFS, included in House Bill 1270 & 1027, was sponsored by Reps.Bob Behnen (R-Kirksville) and Martin Rucker (D-St. Joseph). The historic legislation requires marketers to use ethanol blends after Jan. 1, 2008, whenever price is competitive with gasoline.  This cost component helps ensure a lower price, which marketers should then pass along to consumers. Premium grade gasoline is exempted from the ethanol standard.

Missouri currently has three ethanol plants in production, two under construction and several others under development.
  
Missouri is the seventh state to pass state RFS legislation. Minnesota and Hawaii have implemented a 10 percent ethanol standard. Montana has passed a 10 percent requirement that takes effect when the state produces 40 million gallons of ethanol.  Iowa passed ethanol legislation this spring requiring 10 percent of the state’s fuel supply to be ethanol by 2009. Washington and Louisiana also signed legislation this year requiring two percent biofuel blends.