TSCRA supports request for ethanol waiver

FORT WORTH, Texas, April 25, 2008 — In response to Governor Perry’s request to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a waiver of a portion of the Renewable Fuel Standard, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President Jon Means of Van Horn stated, “TSCRA supports this waiver request. All segments of the livestock industry have been severely impacted by the rising costs of feedstuffs and this request, if granted, would provide some relief.”

“TSCRA has been working with other Texas livestock groups to use all tools available to address the rising costs of feedstuffs. We encourage other state and national livestock groups to join us in the support this waiver request,” said Means.

The Energy Policy act of 2005 amended the Clean Air Act to establish a Renewable Fuel Standard program, which was designed to ensure that gasoline sold in the United States contains a minimum volume of renewable fuel. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 later increased the Renewable Fuel Standard. The legislation mandated that 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels be produced by 2022. 15 billion gallons of fuel are to come from grain-based sources, such as corn.

TSCRA protested at the time about the government stepping in to increase the mandate and passed a policy resolution over a year ago that expressed concerns about the influence of renewable energy policy on the availability and price of feed grains and other feedstuffs.

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 131-year-old trade organization whose 15,000 members manage approximately 3.7 million cattle on 96.5 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma. TSCRA provides law enforcement services, livestock inspection, legislative and regulatory advocacy and education opportunities for its members.