NELSON PRAISES ADMINISTRATION’S ENDORSEMENT OF RENEWABLE FUELS STANDARD

WASHINGTON, DC – The Bush Administration yesterday endorsed the Renewable Fuels Standard portion of the Senate energy bill. Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson applauded the move as a victory for Nebraska agriculture and biofuel producers.

“This is a significant win for the environment, agriculture, and energy consumers,” said Senator Nelson, who was the floor manager for the Renewable Fuels debate in the Senate earlier this year. “By embracing the RFS, the Administration is embracing a future of energy independence based on clean, reliable fuel sources.”

In a letter to all members of the conference committee, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham wrote: "The Administration supports the renewable fuels standard compromise contained in the Senate bill and urges conferees to adopt it. This provision will increase the use of clean, domestically produced renewable fuels, like ethanol, which will improve the Nation's energy security, farm economy, and environment. The compromise includes a market-based national credit trading mechanism that will increase efficiency and reduce costs."

The fuels agreement in the Senate bill would ban MTBE, a gasoline component that pollutes water, provide increased refinery flexibility while enhancing clean air standards, and create a national renewable fuels standard.

This compromise is supported by numerous oil, agriculture, public health and environmental organizations; including the American Petroleum Institute, the Renewable Fuels Association, the American Lung Association, the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Renewable Energy Action Project, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, the Bluewater Network, the National Corn Growers Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Farmers Union, and the American Soybean Association.

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