A range of ethanol organizations have congratulated Tom Vilsack for His Confirmation as USDA Secretary, Here are their remarks.
The American Coalition for Ethanol’s (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings:
“We congratulate Tom Vilsack on his confirmation to once again lead USDA and look forward to working with him on our priority issues, including the timely matter of direct aid to biofuel producers through the optional authority provided by Congress in the latest round of stimulus. We will also work with Secretary Vilsack to advocate for biofuels within the Administration by pushing the EPA to get the RFS back on track and ensuring corn ethanol is part of climate solution. Other priorities we will engage USDA on include promoting infrastructure for E15 and E85 use, incentivizing farmers to engage in climate-smart practices which help reduce the carbon intensity of corn ethanol and restoring export market opportunities.”
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor:
“We congratulate Secretary Vilsack and are excited to work with him and his team on supporting rural America. As seen throughout his confirmation hearing and reflected in his tremendous record of public and private service to the agriculture community, Vilsack is exactly who our farmers, producers, and rural communities need in their corner right now.”
“Additionally, Secretary Vilsack has been a tireless champion of the biofuels industry over the years and understands the important role biofuels should play in our country’s climate change initiatives which the Biden Administration has put at the forefront of its agenda.
“We look forward to working together to support rural economies and build back better with biofuels.”
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) issued the following statement president David Holt:
“We congratulate Secretary Vilsack on his confirmation. As the former Agriculture secretary in the Obama administration and former governor of Iowa, he will be an excellent leader to focus on rebuilding the rural economy and ensuring farmers have access to affordable, reliable energy supplies. The Secretary of Agriculture plays a critically important role in addressing the challenges facing the agriculture industry today, as well as working to help alleviate the nation’s hunger and farm issues that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. With energy serving as one of the top expenses for American farmers each year, we look forward to working closely with Secretary Vilsack to support America’s environmentally sustainable energy future, while also balancing the impact of energy costs on America’s families, farmers and small businesses.”
