IARN — “Farmers could use a bit of good news,” remarks an industry spokesperson, following Monday’s storm. He calls on Congress to support farmers by providing financial relief to biofuels producers and processors.
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association executive director Monte Shaw says, “If we’re going to keep this (biofuels) industry viable, we’re going to need help from Congress.”
“Our demand got cut by 50-percent for a significant period of time, and has not yet (been) restored. That had sapped the reserves of ethanol and biofuel producers to the limit and sometimes over the limit,” Shaw says. “We were already facing tough markets with all of the RFS exemptions that had been granted, so it came at a tough time.”
Biofuels producers and processors have yet to receive any direct assistance. Shaw adds, “The U.S. Department of Agriculture is saying, ‘We’re not going to help biofuels, unless Congress tells us to.’”
Earlier this month, members of the House Biofuels Caucus sent a letter to House and Senate Leadership. The recent letter calls on negotiators to adopt “language explicitly directing” relief to producers and processors of renewable fuels, according to a Growth Energy statement.
Growth Energy Chief Executive Officer Emily Skor believes Congressional Leadership will come together and “align on biofuels.” However, the process will be “an uphill climb.”
“I have more optimism that they can come together and align on biofuels. Now whether they can come together and align on a larger package…they’re pretty far apart right now.It’s going to be an uphill climb in the days and weeks ahead to see if all parties can come to consensus on relief and get a package at a macro level.”
