The U.S. Senate gave the green light to a major increase in renewable fuels standards Thursday night with the passage of the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007.

The bill requires that the U.S. produce 36 billion gallons of fuel per year from renewable sources by 2022. It would also require that 15 billion gallons of ethanol be made from corn by 2015, doubling the current standard.
The success of the bill is a defeat for many national livestock organizations, which fought against the fuel standard because of fears of increased feed costs that could result from corn prices driven higher by ethanol production.

As reported last week by Iowa Independent, livestock groups like the National Pork Producers Association and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association were urging changes to the proposed renewable fuels standard. Food processors like Coca-Cola — which uses corn-derived sweeteners — and cereal manufacturers also opposed the standard because of the rising cost of corn.

At that time Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley issued a scolding statement to the groups opposed to the standard, telling them to "not be selfish." The Republican urged patience and said the potential for ethanol production will be significant once the cellulosic technologies are up and running, which will relieve pressure on corn prices paid by livestock producers.

In a telephone interview today with Iowa Independent, Iowa Pork Producers Association President-elect Dave Moody said that livestock farmers remain concerned about the push for any more ethanol derived from corn. "There is a concern about the usage of corn and the physical availability of corn," said Moody. "If we end up with anything at all short of a good crop anywhere, with the way the ethanol industry has been growing, that is the concern."

"The problem is probably not going to happen in Iowa," Moody said, "but there are certainly producers in other parts of the nation where there's not quite as abundant a supply of corn and that is something pork producers are definitely concerned about." He said that the renewable fuels standard in the Senate bill will rely on the success of new ways to make ethanol from sources other than corn.

Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa on Friday issued a statement applauding the success of the bill. Harkin highlighted the fact that the bill pushes for new renewable fuels technologies like making ethanol from products other than corn. "We are on the cusp of a bioenergy revolution in this country and this bill realizes that by putting a heavy emphasis on biofuels from cellulosic feedstocks," said Harkin. "That provision is critical for the economies of Iowa and the Midwest where most of our renewable fuels are produced. Today that comes from corn and soybeans, but in the future we'll still be leaders with biofuels coming from biomass in southern Iowa as well as corn and corn stover from northern Iowa."

Harkin also noted that the Senate bill raises automotive efficiency standards for the first time since the 1980s, and includes provisions to improve the energy efficiency of lighting, appliances and buildings.

The Senate bill now awaits action from the U.S. House.