Ag Policy Blog

Biofuels groups struck a positive tone in congratulating President Barack Obama on his re-election victory Tuesday and one environmental group called for the administration to pursue climate change legislation.

American Rivers: 'Obama Administration Offers Opportunities for Clean Water'

"The victory of President Barack Obama presents an opportunity to make significant progress toward protecting and restoring the nation's rivers, and ensuring clean water for all Americans.

"We congratulate President Obama on his election to a second term. President Obama and his administration took important steps for rivers over the past four years. Now he has a chance to leave a lasting legacy of healthy rivers and revitalized river communities nationwide. President Obama has a historic opportunity to show that protecting and restoring rivers isn't just about the environment, it's also about ensuring good jobs, a strong economy, and public health," Bob Irvin, president of American Rivers said in a statement.

"Rivers provide roughly 60% of our drinking water. They are home to fish and wildlife, and are the places Americans love to fish, swim, and paddle. Healthy rivers are economic engines, supporting local businesses and jobs in recreation, restoration and other industries.

"But threats to rivers and clean water persist. Climate change is bringing more frequent and intense floods and droughts. Many of the nation's dams are aging and unsafe. Every year more than 860 billion gallons of untreated sewage are discharged into the nation's waters -- yet many in Congress are trying to gut essential clean water protections for our communities.

"With the election over, American Rivers outlined three priorities for the Administration and Congress: Protect healthy, wild rivers; restore damaged rivers; ensure clean water.

"Clean water is essential to our economy and public health. Congress and the Administration should act immediately to reaffirm Clean Water Act protections for small streams and wetlands. They should also help communities bring aging water infrastructure into the 21st century, investing in cost-effective solutions like green roofs and rain-catching street designs to reduce polluted runoff, flooding and sewer overflows. The administration should also continue its work to modernize Clean Water Act rules to reduce polluted runoff to streams and rivers by more fairly targeting pollution sources and incorporating advances in technology.

"We look forward to working with Congress and the administration to ensure clean water and healthy rivers are a priority. It is a matter of economic security and public safety, and we have a moral obligation to safeguard our natural heritage for future generations," Irvin said.

Renewable Energy Remained Important Part of National Discussion

"Poet CEO Jeff Lautt released the following statement regarding the federal elections:

"The important role of renewable fuel in our nation's economy, national security and environment was evident throughout this year's campaigns from both sides of the aisle, and the fact that so many of our nation's elected officials recognize that makes me optimistic for the future of the biofuels industry.

"As President Obama noted this fall, ‘Biofuels are an important part of reducing America's dependence on foreign oil and creating jobs here at home.’ I look forward to continued support for the Renewable Fuels Standard to ensure that more and more drivers have access to clean fuel produced here in the United States.

"I also look forward to working with members of 113th Congress to help them learn about the many benefits and U.S. jobs the biofuels industry provides today and the enormous potential of advanced biofuels through efforts such as Project LIBERTY, which is under construction in Iowa and on schedule for completion in 2013."

Growth Energy Congratulates President, new Congress

"Following the election results for the 2012 general election, Tom Buis, chief executive officer of Growth Energy released the following statement:

"Growth Energy sends its congratulations to President Obama for his successful re-election bid. Additionally, Growth Energy congratulates returning and new elected members of the 113th Congress.

"The ethanol industry appreciates the support of President Obama and his administration over the last four years and we look forward to furthering our work with them, continuing to produce a cleaner burning, home-grown renewable fuel.

"Now that the election is over, Growth Energy is looking forward to working with the president and his administration as well as the current and new Congress in a bipartisan manner to help expand market access for biofuels, such as E15, and to defend the Renewable Fuels Standard, which has been the most successful energy policy this nation has enacted in the last half century.

"Finally, I welcome back our returning champions who have tirelessly fought for a strong biofuels industry and look forward to building relationships and working to educate new members of Congress on the benefits of biofuels.

"The renewable fuels industry creates jobs at home that cannot be outsourced, spurs investment in America and revitalizes rural economies, produces a cleaner burning fuel and reduces our dangerous dependence on foreign oil, while providing consumers savings at the pump."

Novozymes Ready to Work to Solve America's Energy Challenges

"Novozymes, the world leader in making enzyme technology that turns biomass into biofuels, today congratulated President Obama on his reelection.

"On behalf of Novozymes and its more than 1,000 employees across America – including California, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Virginia and Massachusetts - congratulations to President Obama on his reelection. We're ready to help turn his plans to boost American energy into action – and make renewable energy like biofuels one of the pillars of that plan," Adam Monroe, president of Novozymes North America said in a statement.

"Americans kept $50 billion in the United States thanks to domestic, renewable fuel in 2011 -- creating careers, protecting our environment and improving our security. That's why Novozymes and its partners already invested more than a billion dollars to commercialize advanced biofuel -- and we're making fuels from a variety of sources, including household trash.

"We appreciate President Obama's support for the Renewable Fuels Standard; it's forward-thinking, long-term policy like the RFS which keeps private investment flowing. We're set to work with his administration to help keep the RFS strong.

In May 2012, Novozymes started operations on the largest U.S. enzyme plant dedicated to biofuels, with the opening of its advanced manufacturing plant in Blair, Neb. Funded with $200 million in private investment, the plant created 100 career positions and 400 construction jobs, and specializes in enzymes for both the first generation and advanced biofuel markets.

NRDC Action Fund: Time to act on Climate Change

"Following is a statement by Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund:

"Clean energy emerged a big winner. The American people chose many candidates who campaigned on renewable sources of energy--starting with President Obama, who took unprecedented actions in the past four years to protect our air and produce clean energy jobs.

"There's more good news. From Massachusetts to Ohio, from Virginia and Indiana to Missouri, from Wisconsin and New Mexico, champions of clean air and public health will be at the battle stations in the United States Senate next year--not only to promote smart policies that move America forward but also to fight any efforts by extremists in the House to continue its reckless assault on our health and the environment.

"Now it's time to take decisive action to create the clean energy future that will address climate change -- an urgent need amplified by Hurricane Sandy's devastation.

"And the new Congress should join the president in addressing that urgent threat. This will require the Republican leadership to abandon its allegiance to Tea Party extremists who are woefully out of step with the American public, as shown by survey after survey -- and now by the election returns.

"Here's another lesson from Campaign 2012: Money can't buy you love. The pollution industry spent hundreds of millions of dollars to influence this election, yet emerged with little to show for its efforts. That's because voters always reject an agenda that puts polluter profits first and leaves the rest of us at risk."

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