U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack traveled back to Iowa today, praising biodiesel in his home state for driving and revitalizing rural America’s economy. In remarks during a meeting with Iowa biodiesel and farm industry representatives at the Soy Energy biodiesel production facility in Mason City, the USDA chief pointed to the green fuel as a demonstration of farmers bouncing back, according to this Iowa Biodiesel Board news release.
“This is the resilient face of agriculture we see here today,” Vilsack said, flanked by Soy Energy plant workers. “Biodiesel plants like this one are getting America back in the business of manufacturing. They are creating jobs and revitalizing the rural economy.”
The Iowa Biodiesel Board thanked the Secretary for his remarks and for his steadfast support of biodiesel.
“Iowa’s leadership in renewable energy production shows what we as a nation are capable of in building energy security and green jobs, and we’re equipped to do even more,” said Randy Olson, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board.
Those meeting with Vilsack pressed for more gallons of biodiesel under the Renewable Fuel Standard-2 (RFS-2). The EPA wants to go from 1 billion gallons this year to 1.28 billion gallons in 2013, what the Iowa biodiesel industry sees as a modest increase from last year’s record nearly 1.1 billion gallons of production.
The Iowa Biodiesel Board points out that Soy Energy, LLC is a “multi-feedstock” plant, capable of producing biodiesel from many different fats and vegetable oils, including corn oil left over from ethanol production.