Ag Energy Coalition Welcomes Proposed Rules for Farm Bill Energy Programs

June 24, 2015 | By Business Wire News

WASHINGTON

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today proposed rules broadening the impact of the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program (“9003 Program”) and the BioPreferred Program. Biorefineries that primarily produce renewable chemicals will now be eligible for loan guarantees under the 9003 program.

Lloyd Ritter, co-director of the AgEC, said, “The renewable energy and energy efficiency programs in the Farm Bill help rural America create new manufacturing opportunities and stable, well-paying jobs. The 9003 program is a vital tool that provides access to capital and loans for underserved agricultural communities to produce cutting edge fuels and products. Expanding eligibility for loan guarantees under this program will help finance new renewable chemical biorefineries that grow the biobased economy, and build new markets for America’s growers.

“The biobased products industry contributes $369 billion annually to the U.S. economy and employs more than four million Americans. Together, the use of these 40,000 biobased products displaces about 300 million gallons of petroleum per year, which is equivalent to taking 200,000 cars off the road.”

The AgEC is a broad membership-based consortium of organizations and companies representing a broad spectrum of clean, renewable energy, energy efficiency and bioproducts stakeholders. It includes members focused on feedstock production and conversion technologies, rural economic development and diversification, biofuels, products and power, and renewable electricity production, environmental quality, and others. Coalition members are committed to seeing a properly implemented and fully funded energy title in the bi-partisan 2014 farm bill that builds on the tremendous clean energy accomplishments USDA has already realized and provides resources to USDA at a level that enables them to continue and expand this important mission.