Nebraska Farmers Union

1305 Plum Street • Lincoln, NE 68502 www.nebraskafarmersunion.org Contact John Hansen Office: 402-476-8815, Fax: 402-476-8859, Cell: 402-580-8815 john@nebraskafarmersunion.org

For Immediate Release Contact: John Hansen 402-476-8815

October 21, 2010

Farmers Union: USDA/DOE Biofuels Infrastructure

Announcement Is “Exactly What is Needed”

WASHINGTON (Oct. 21, 2010) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) nationwide initiative to expand investment in biofuels infrastructure:

We are extremely pleased with today’s announced investment in flexible fuel and blender pumps. This kind of investment by the Obama administration in biofuels infrastructure is exactly what is needed in order for the United States to realize sustained growth of biofuels. We strongly support Agriculture Secretary Vilsack’s goal of installing 10,000 flex fuel pumps throughout the U.S. in the next five years.

“Across the country, America’s farmers and ranchers provide for us in abundance, including real energy solutions that provide greater energy independence and economic security while also improving the environment. Continued investment in renewable fuels infrastructure is absolutely critical in achieving these goals. This announcement is a crucial step towards meeting the RFS2 (Renewable Fuels Standard) mandate to produce 36 billion gallons of biofuel by 2022.”

Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen said, “Nebraska is the second largest ethanol producing state in the nation. We need a statewide ethanol marketing system to match our ethanol producing capacity so that Nebraskans have the opportunity to take full advantage of our home grown fuel. We hope Nebraska takes advantage of this historic federal initiative to expand our state’s ethanol marketing options and ethanol utilization similar to what our neighbor South Dakota has already done. We need to expand our flex fuel infrastructure to keep pace with the growing number of flex fuel vehicles already on the road. It should not be a “treasure hunt” type experience to fuel up your flex fuel car. Expanding our ethanol marketing infrastructure is good for our economy, good for our environment, and especially good for rural Nebraska.”

This initiative is a result of funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act under the State Energy Program and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, and may be used for eligible transportation projects such as renewable fueling pump deployment. Across the country, state energy offices will help make resources available to gas station owners to begin this important transition.

Farmers Union policy supports programs to tackle the lack of infrastructure in the expansion of renewable energy, particularly in the establishment of E-85 stations and blender pumps.

NFU has been working since 1902 and NEFU since 1913 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.

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