Slater Talks Ethanol Legislation With National French Farmers Organization (6-12-06)

The increased use of ethanol in our nation’s fuel supply is not the singular answer for the United States’ dangerous addiction to foreign oil, but ethanol can and will continue to play an important role in the overall energy policy and solutions, according to National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Director of Public Policy Samantha Slater, who was in Chicago last week presenting an overview of ethanol issues and legislation before a French agribusiness retailers group.

“Ethanol is an economic engine for rural America and is playing an important role in long-term energy security,” said Slater. “We have a national renewable fuels standard which will secure 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply by 2012, but corn growers are envisioning even bigger ethanol industry.”

In addition to discussions on the renewable fuels standard and other energy legislative milestones, Slater also discussed the issues of corn production.

Slater noted the domestic growing ethanol industry is continuing to grow at a rapid pace citing the U.S. has 101 ethanol facilities with a production capacity already topping 4.8 billion gallons and there are 32 plants under construction with more in the planning stages.

“NCGA sees corn-ethanol production reaching 15 billion gallons by 2015 and with record corn production levels,” Slater said “all markets for corn will be satisfied. Corn growers have always been forward thinking and they continue to be by improving farming operations and production and the research and technology of utilizing more of the corn kernel.”