Backing Biofuels

Backing Biofuels

Weller touts area efforts to advance alternatives

 

By Jo Ann Hustis

Herald Writer

Congressman Jerry Weller gave credit Wednesday to area farmers and investors who believe in biofuels.

 

“We grow corn and soybeans — renewable crops — and we would not be dependent on foreign sources, in many cases an unfriendly foreign source, to power our economy, so why not make a long-term commitment to promoting alternative fuel sources?” he said during the quarterly Grundy County Agricultural Roundtable at the county Farm Bureau building in Morris.

 

“And, many of you were willing to step forth with that objective in mind long before there was a national policy on biofuels.”

 

The Morris Republican told the roundtable of about 30 people Congress took three years to approve legislation that created the National Energy Bill.

 

The bill produced the country’s first-ever major commitment to promoting biofuels, he said.

 

“Changing the renewable fuels standard to require an increase in biofuels from four billion gallons today, to 7.6 billion gallons by the year 2011.

 

As a result, we’ve seen exactly what many people in this room have said would happen.”

 

That is, 26 different groups in Illinois are currently putting together the investment and talent to move forward with development and construction of biodiesel and ethanol plants around the state, said Weller.

 

“Some of the groups are right here (in the area). Some are even represented in this room,” he noted.

 

“The bottom line is we expect to see, in the next few years, five new ethanol plants and five new biodiesel plants in the 11th Congressional District alone.

 

“That means jobs here in town, better farm prices, and reducing our dependence on imported oil. It’s a good thing.”

 

Weller pointed out German manufacturer Steppen, which he said produces biodiesel in its Elwood and Hillsdale plants, and has doubled production since the new Energy Bill was approved.

 

“From 70 million to 140 million gallons,” he said. “We’re seeing a case where the policy is really making a difference at the local level.”

 

He noted that policy and substantial, long-term commitments are making a difference.

 

“I also think we need to do more, and I have introduced the Biofuels Act of 2006 to increase the renewable fuels standard to 25 billion gallons by 2025,” he said.

 

“And to provide tax incentives for investment in refinery distribution capacity, and tax credit for consumers to buy flexible fuel vehicles. Right now, there’s a tax credit to buy hybrids, and they’re selling a lot of them, regardless.”

 

Weller has been involved in promoting biofuels more than 20 years, from his time as a state legislator to now.

 

“The main point we’ve always said is, we’re over-dependent on foreign oil,” he noted. “About two-thirds of the oil we use is imported.

 

“Today we’re suffering the consequences of that, with 43 gasolines and the high price of diesel fuel.”

 

Weller believes everyone agrees the nation wants to replace imported oil with home-grown biofuels. He also said the new energy legislation doubles the amount for biofuels research from $70 million to $140 million,

 

“The bottom line is, increasing the biofuels standards to 25 billion gallons by 2025 would replace 1.6 million barrels of oil a day,” he said.

 

“That’s more oil than we import from Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. It would be good for our economy and create a lot of jobs here.”