FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2012

Contact: Melisa Augusto, 202-314-3191
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Tony Jarboe, 202-314-3104
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WASHINGTON (July 12, 2012) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson submitted comments today to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the Notice of Data Availability (NODA) Concerning Renewable Fuels Produced from Grain Sorghum under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program.

“U.S. farmers can have a tremendous positive impact on the environment by producing advanced biofuel from grain sorghum,” said Johnson. “EPA’s analysis indicates that utilizing different process energy technology options reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts of ethanol produced from grain sorghum by 53 percent compared to the petroleum baseline."

In 2007, Congress passed the Renewable Fuels Standard 2 (RFS2), which requires the production of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2022 from both conventional and advanced sources of biofuel. NFU policy encourages full implementation of the RFS2 and requires any revisions to be based on the best available science subject to public review.

“NFU supports expanded use of other biofuels, and encourage the use of eligible feedstocks such as grain sorghum, millet, barley, oats and wheat to meet the requirements for other advanced biofuels under the RFS,” said Johnson. “Based on our review of the NODA, we support the findings of EPA’s analysis which indicates that grain sorghum qualifies as an advanced biofuel.”

National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.

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