At least three GOP presidential candidates were talking about biofuels on Wednesday.
In his campaign kickoff address, Republican Tommy Thompson, former Governor of Wisconsin, noted that his state “saw the promise of ethanol and renewable energy far before it was fashionable.”
On the environment and energy, America must become independent in its energy needs and break reliance on foreign oil. We must begin with greater investments in renewable energy, like ethanol, so we can bring these technologies to market faster and more efficiently. And we must come together and deal with our changing climate.
According to an Associated Press article, Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani said during a visit to Florida that everything should be considered if the United States wants to break its reliance on foreign oil.
The former New York mayor cited Brazil’s use of ethanol as an example the United States should follow.
“Brazil’s a wonderful country, wonderful economy, wonderful scientific community – it’s not the United States of America. Why should they be ahead of us on ethanol? We should be ahead of them. That should be our goal,” he said.
If the United States concentrates on new or improved technologies for energy production, it can then turn around and sell them to countries like India and China who have a growing demand, he said.
Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, CNHI News Service reports that Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) voiced support for a new version of the Homestead Act that would “encourage capital investments in rural communities, which could include the production of corn or other ethanol-producing or alternative fuel-producing crops.”
A reader alerted us to the impending opening of 
Despite the support of Florida’s commissioner of agriculture for biofuels production, despite two recent ethanol history-making races held in the Sunshine State, and despite a new campaign that 
The North Carolina General Assembly is considering a sweeping statewide strategic plan to strengthen North Carolina’s future in biofuels development and use.
Biofuels and their impact on animal agriculture was the main topic at opening general session of the 
The keynote speaker was Bill Jones, chairman of 
The Tri–City Energy facility that cost $5 million to begin operations is small compared to its peers that make from 30 million to 60 million gallons a year.
The plant is quite a boost to Keokuk as Tri-City Energy put its biodiesel plant in an old General Mills wheat processing plant that had been used just for storage for 30 years.
A newly-completed study in Ontario shows that biodiesel could be an effective alternative fuel for farm operations in Canada. According to 
“Our Government is committed to encouraging the development and use of renewable fuels,” said the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources. “Initiatives such as these play an important role in helping us achieve the government’s objective of five percent renewable content in transportation fuels by 2010. This is another example of how we can create new economic opportunities for farmers and the agricultural sector while also taking care of our environment.”
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