IL CORN PRIORITIES CHAMPIONED AT WHITE HOUSE MEETING

Tricia Braid

Jul 16, 2014  |  Today's News

Earlier this week, Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) organized and led a meeting at the White House to discuss proposed changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).  Foster was joined by Democratic Representatives Tammy Duckworth and Bill Enyart. These three members of Congress spoke with key White House staff about corn ethanol and its value to the Renewable Fuel Standard. IL Corn Growers Association is extremely appreciative of the leadership shown by Congressmen Foster and Enyart and Congresswoman Duckworth on this issue.

Rep. Foster brought Dr. Michael Wang from the Argonne National Laboratory and Dr. Steffen Mueller of the University of Illinois at Chicago with him to the meeting to give them an opportunity to present their latest research on the greenhouse gas emission benefits of corn-based ethanol. Dr. Mueller’s research is supported by Illinois corn checkoff dollars.

Following their presentations, the scientists requested that the White House ask EPA to reconsider how they model greenhouse gas emissions associated with corn-based ethanol, given that they have found that it reduces carbon dioxide emissions by an average of at least 34% when compared to gasoline.  White House staff in the meeting, including Dan Utech, Special Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change and James Stock of the Council of Economic Advisers asked good questions of Drs. Wang and Mueller and were receptive to the presentations given by both scientists.  EPA is expected to issue a revised RFS rule in the near future, although no date has been set for announcement. 

Congressman Foster’s press release on the meeting can be found here