Biodiesel producers and farmers who raise the feedstocks for the biodiesel industry took to Capitol Hill this week, joining a group of U.S. Senate Democrats in their calls to end policy uncertainty that is hurting their industry. Terry Goerger, a soybean grower from North Dakota, expressed his concerns, especially how many farmers made plans believing Congress and the Obama Administration would continue to back biodiesel.
“We all bought into the [Renewable Fuel Standard] thinking it was the road map to the future for domestic fuels, like biodiesel. So we made the investments, we made the road map to do these things, and right now, those things are being pulled back. And it’s really caused us to think, ‘What is going to happen to our industry?'” despite the growth in the renewable fuels industry, he said.
Terry went on to tell me it’s hard for the biodiesel industry to expand, or even maintain at current levels, with the way now federal tax incentives are renewed year-to-year. He’d like to see the legislation changed to a five or 10 year plan.
“With biodiesel, it’s important to have a structured program that will assist the biodiesel industry in growing and getting where it needs to be in solving our energy needs in America,” Terry said.
He’s optimistic that there’s enough support in Congress to make the programs supporting biodiesel more stable.
“We’re hoping they’ll listen and think about if they really want a renewable fuel industry in the United States. The farmers who produce the feedstock are ready to go, and a lot of the people operating the plants are ready to go and increase and move ahead. We just need a little help to make that all happen.”
Listen to my conversation with Terry here: Terry Goerger, North Dakota soybean farmer
And you can hear what the senators had to say here: Senators Voice Biodiesel Concerns
And what other stakeholders had to say here: Biodiesel Industry Concerns
