In this podcast, Carl Sousek, a farmer from Prague and president of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, provides some thoughts on the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to not hear a lawsuit challenging the Renewable Fuels Standard, or the RFS. The lawsuit was filed against the RFS by oil refiners and another group who aims to serve Big Oil.
"We need to remember that the RFS was created by a piece of legislation aptly named the Energy Independence and Security Act," Sousek said. "That name means something because the intent of Congress was clear when it passed that piece of legislation — that domestically-produced biofuels like corn-based ethanol strengthen our national defense and support our economy."
He said the RFS is a key component if we hope to continue reducing our dependence on foreign oil and we must fight vigorously against any attempt to weaken it. In 2010, for example, ethanol plants produced 13 billion gallons of ethanol. That displaced the need for 445 million barrels of oil, saving the U.S. economy some $34 billion.
Sousek also talks about all the distillers grains ethanol plants produce. "Add that in and we’re talking about even more positives for Nebraska’s livestock industries who use this high-value and lower cost feed ingredient," he said. "It increases the economic benefit to Nebraska as a whole."
He concluded, "We need all biofuels, including corn ethanol, to achieve the goals of the RFS, so we can stay on the path of becoming more energy independent and secure."
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