WASHINGTON  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) and U.S. Senator Jim Talent today applauded new efforts to integrate E85 into the fuel infrastructure of Southern Missouri and the nation.  Emerson, Talent, and U.S. Senator Kit Bond have all supported legislation in Congress to broaden use of the value-added product across the U.S.

 

"Ethanol goes from our farms into fuels, and it represents a new trend that will greatly boost American energy independence.  I am proud to join Senator Jim Talent in making this significant investment in Ethanol production and retailing. There is a strong role for organizations like USDA Rural Development to play in making grants to support new fuels such as E85.  Ethanol creates tremendous value-added opportunities for Southern Missouri farmers, and we have an obligation to use every means available to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign sources of energy.  Ethanol is a clean, home-grown solution to the energy crisis facing our nation, and E85 represents a new, efficient use of alternative fuels that we should encourage.  The real leader in Washington on these efforts has been our U.S. Senator, Jim Talent,” Emerson said from an event to open a new E85 station in Bernie, Missouri today.

 

Talent is responsible for legislative language to mandate the use of 7.5 billion gallons of E85, a fuel that is composed of 85 percent Ethanol, in the new Renewable Fuels Standard.  The refinery savings of this measure would drastically reduce U.S. reliance on foreign sources of fuel.

 

“This is a great day for our producers and for everyone who will use this fuel to fill their tanks with an 85 percent ethanol blend,” said Talent. “I congratulate MFA, the Corn Growers, Bootheel Ethanol and everyone who is working so hard to create new opportunities for Ethanol.  Because of the tireless efforts of our producer groups, Washington is finally recognizing that renewable fuels are the future, as we saw in the overwhelming bipartisan support for the Energy bill, which contained the nation’s first-ever Renewable Fuels Standard.  Everyone who pushed the Renewable Fuels Standard should take great satisfaction that their advocacy in support of ethanol
and biodiesel is changing Washington.”

 

Bootheel Missouri’s first Ethanol refinery will soon open in Malden, Missouri.

“As more refineries and E85 stations crop up in Southern Missouri and across the nation in the future, it is my hope that America will benefit from the hard work and good products of our farmers by seeing lower prices and steadier supplies of fuel.  Ethanol and bio-fuels like soy diesel must be a major part of the solution, as well as our national energy policy,” Emerson said.