WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today joined the grand opening of the DuPont Cellulosic Ethanol Facility in Nevada. The facility converting corn stover and crop residue into ethanol is the biggest cellulosic ethanol facility in the world.
Grassley has long-championed efforts to cultivate the state and nation’s tremendous potential to produce homegrown renewable energy. He has worked to establish the Renewable Fuels Standard to promote biofuels production and fights to maintain its strength as he and Congress intended. He also has advanced policies to encourage the next generation of renewable fuels, like the tax credit for producing cellulosic ethanol.
The text of Grassley’s remarks follows here. An op-ed from Grassley on cellulosic ethanol is available here.
Remarks of Senator Chuck Grassley
DuPont Cellulosic Ethanol Facility Opening in Nevada
Friday, Oct. 30, 2015
I’m glad to have this opportunity to congratulate you on today’s grand opening. I’m a long-time supporter of efforts to diversify our energy supply with clean-burning, homegrown renewable energy. Iowa’s biofuel and wind energy industries are creating good jobs, revitalizing rural economies, boosting farm income, reducing reliance on foreign oil, and reducing energy prices for consumers. Efforts to foster energy independence keeps more money at home, rather than sending it to countries that wish to do us harm.
Your achievement is revolutionary. In fact, from conception to commercialization, this biorefinery is a by-product of Iowa ingenuity, innovation and investment. The brand new, state-of-the-art, next-generation, $225 million facility will convert crop residues into 30 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol annually. Thirty million gallons of biofuel will be produced without consuming a single bushel of corn or using a single additional acre of land.
Just think, Iowa is ground zero for the largest cellulosic ethanol facility in the world. There’s no doubt about it – this facility is a game changer. Rest assured, I’ll be touting your achievement in Washington.
I worked successfully a decade ago to secure passage of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard that planted seeds of opportunity for growth, innovation and stability in the marketplace. You have achieved here what Congress had hoped. We envisioned new biofuels, from new technologies that were cleaner, greener and more efficient. You’ve achieved those goals with today’s grand opening.
Defending and maintaining the integrity of this program is critical, especially for advanced and cellulosic biofuels producers. We can’t pull the rug out from under you. And, if we want additional investment in advanced biofuels, Congress and the EPA must reject efforts to undermine this successful program.
Yours is a compelling story, and it’ll help me promote ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard. So, thank you for your hard and innovative work.
We cannot afford to stand still. You’ve demonstrated that ethanol production continues to improve and innovate, and I’m pleased to congratulate you for being on the leading edge.
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