The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau held a press conference this week to encourage action on legislation to promote biofuels production in time to help provide farmers additional income and stave off the closing of existing biodiesel producers.

Farm Bureau President Carl Shaffer said farmers support Gov. Rendell’s initiative to promote biofuels and separate legislation that would provide per gallon incentives to biodiesel makers to promote production and markets for soybeans and corn raised by Pennsylvania farmers.

Shaffer said they support Special Session Senate Bill 36 (M.White-R-Venango), Special Session Senate Bill 22 (Tomlinson-R-Bucks) and Special Session House Bill 42 (Kessler-D-Berks).

He noted rising fuel prices have hurt famers particularly hard raising their cost of growing crops, but said farmers are anxious to contribute to the biofuels initiative that would cut the U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

Video Blog: Carl Shaffer on Biofuel Opportunities for Farmers

Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster), Majority Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, joined the Farm Bureau in calling for action on biofuels legislation saying it presents a great opportunity for Pennsylvania farmers.

Video Blog: Sen. Brubaker’s Remarks on Biofuels

Rep. David Kessler (D-Berks) provided an overview of Special Session House Bill 42 that provides for a $1 per gallon incentive to producers of biodiesel in order to promote the production of Pennsylvania-grown fuels.

Video Blog: Rep. Kessler on Incentives for Biofuels

Ben Wootton, President of Keystone BioFuels in Cumberland County, said he had to lay off 80 percent of his workforce due to his inability to distribute his 100 percent pure biodiesel to customers. Faced with competition from other states that provide per gallon subsidies, Wootton said he was supporting legislation to level the playing field between competitors.

Video Blog: Ben Wootton Talks About PA’s Biofuels Industry

Keith Oellig, a Dauphin County soybean farmer, said the skyrocketing cost of diesel fuel and natural gas used to make fertilizer has increased his cost of production significantly. He said the production of biofuels will not solve the energy problems, but it will be an important step toward stabilizing farm production costs.

Video Blog: Keith Oellig Talks About Biofuels From Producer Viewpoint

Carl Shaffer said the Farm Bureau believes the future of renewable fuels production in the state requires swift action from the General Assembly.

“Pennsylvania should be a renewable fuels leader among states. The time is now for adoption of the PennSecurity Fuels Initiative. State lawmakers also need to take immediate action to prevent the collapse of our new biodiesel industry,” concluded Shaffer.

4/4/2008