RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper
“We’re excited about the opportunity to sit down with the new leadership in the incoming Trump administration, to make our case and remind them of why ethanol should be part of their energy strategy and and energy policy moving forward,” said Cooper during the NAFB Convention last week in Kansas City.
RFA welcomed the news that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, in addition to being named as Interior Secretary, will chair the new National Energy Council, believing he understands the importance of an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes renewable fuels, carbon capture and sequestration, and other innovative approaches.
Cooper expressed little concern about EPA Administrator choice Lee Zeldin’s previous opposition to the Renewable Fuel Standard as a congressman from New York. “Not a real deep track record on on ethanol and renewable fuels issues,” said Cooper. “He did sign his name onto some legislation that would have repealed the RFS, but that was a different time…And so we’re looking forward to sitting down with Mr. Zeldin and getting him up to speed on what’s happening in the ethanol industry.”
RFA has yet to comment on the latest Trump announcement Saturday tapping oil executive Chris Wright for Energy Secretary, but Cooper says they are anxious to see who will be nominated for Agriculture Secretary since current Secretary Tom Vilsack has been a strong proponent for biofuels.
Meanwhile, RFA is extremely excited about the election of Sen. John Thune (R-SD) as Senate Majority Leader.
“Having Senator Thune as the Majority Leader in the Senate is a huge deal for us,” said Cooper. “He’s been a tremendous supporter. Over the last 20 years, he’s kind of been at the forefront of every ethanol-related policy issue that’s gone through the Senate, so that’s good news.”
NAFB24 Geoff Cooper, RFA (5:29)