星期四, 14 8 月, 2025
Home PV Project USDA head downplays calls to cut biofuel mandate

USDA head downplays calls to cut biofuel mandate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer said ethanol is not having a "major" impact on food prices, and downplayed calls by lawmakers and industry groups to make changes to programs that promote increased use of biofuels.


Prices for wheat, corn, soybeans and rice have set record highs at the Chicago Board of Trade this year. Around the world, rising food prices have lead to hoarding of wheat and rice, bread lines and food riots.


It has prompted demands from some to pull back the throttle on the boom in ethanol and other biofuels, touted as a home-grown way to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign energy.


In Congress, two dozen Republican senators have pushed to revisit a mandate passed last December that calls for a fivefold increase in biofuels output by 2022.


Schafer told reporters that demand for biofuels is having an impact on food prices, "but it is not a major factor."


He said there would be few benefits from changing the renewable fuels standard, reducing the tax credit for producing ethanol as proposed in the farm bill or ending the ethanol import tariff.


"The change in the renewable fuel standard, the change in tariff or duty isn't going to affect food prices," said Schafer. "We need to focus on things that will actually have an effect instead of a short-term political solution."


The Grocery Manufacturers Association, echoing concern in the food industry and from aid groups, earlier this month blasted the growing use of corn to make fuel that is driving up the cost of virtually all commodities.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisment -

Most Popular

Goldman expects global solar installations set to rise to 914 Gigawatts (Gw) in 2030

  Policymakers in some of the world’s largest economies are reducing support for solar power generation. Even so, Goldman Sachs Research expects rapid growth in...

Germany’s solar industry warns against subsidy cuts for rooftop installations

Germany’s solar industry has raised concerns over a proposal by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche to end feed-in subsidies for new small-scale rooftop photovoltaic (PV)...

141MW solar project proposal submitted to Australia’s EPBC Act

ACE Power and Osaka Gas Energy Australia have joined forces to develop the 141MWdc Forbes Solar Farm, which is proposed for central New South...

Swiss pilot surpasses solar-powered plane altitude record

The SolarStratos plane made the landmark flight from Sion airport in southwest Switzerland on Tuesday, taking advantage of warm air thermals to go beyond...