Building a Case for Biofuels

Biofuel production is a hot topic all across America, including the halls of Congress. The Senate Agriculture Committee will hear from a panel of biofuel experts tomorrow about the need to ramp up biofuel production. These biofuel supporters will argue that the next Farm Bill should become the vehicle for transforming products like ethanol and biodiesel into affordable alternatives to gasoline.

Domestic biofuel production will not only reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but open new markets for farmers and citizens in rural America. An area like the First Congressional District of Arkansas, with our fertile soil, central location to the Mississippi River, and our innovative spirit, is a perfect place to expand biofuel production. It would be nice to see the tens of billions of dollars spent annually on Middle Eastern oil go into the pockets of citizens in the First District.

Just two years ago, biodiesel sales were a mere 25 million gallons. That figure is projected to hit 150 million gallons this year.