Ethanol industry leaders from Growth Energy took their story about the importance of biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to dozens of lawmakers and administration officials this week in Washington DC as part of the organization’s Advocacy Conference.

On Tuesday, some 100 of them heard from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack who repeating his support for the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).

“I will tell you this: that I have conveyed and will continue to convey to the EPA and to the country my support for this industry,” Vilsack said, calling USDA a partner in the renewable fuels industry. “I don’t want anybody to leave here today thinking that at USDA there is any waver on our support for this industry,” he added.

The Growth Energy representatives had over 100 meetings on Capitol Hill on Tuesday and Dan Sanders of Front Range Ethanol in Colorado says it was significant they were there on the anniversary of 9/11 “talking to leaders about how important the RFS is to America’s economy and to national security.” Sanders felt that their message was well received by lawmakers.

Jeff Lautt, CEO of POET, agreed. “This is an industry that is domestic and cannot be exported. You cannot transfer this industry out of the U.S.” he said. “The nearly half million jobs this industry has created are driving energy independence, they’re creating fuel that’s being consumed here. Once you explain that, they understand.”