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RFA pleased biofuels included in COVID-19 relief proposal

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says he is pleased emergency relief for the ethanol industry is included in the latest coronavirus relief proposal.

The proposal includes the Renewable Fuel Reimbursement Program, where biofuel producers would receive 45 cents per gallon for qualifying fuels produced between Jan. 1 and May 1 this year.

“That would certainly help ethanol producers and other biofuel producers cover their feedstock cost, labor costs and other operating costs during that time and provide a cash infusion to the industry so that when we turn the corner from this crisis this would ensure that biofuel producers are well-positioned to restart their operations quickly and really participate in the economic recover from COVID-19,” he says.

He says the provision was included in the bill after RFA and other ag and biofuels groups sent a letter to House and Senate leaders asking that biofuels be included the next round of coronavirus relief. A group of lawmakers also sent a letter to House leaders about the struggling biofuel sector.

“There has been a lot of support for including relief measures specifically for biofuels in this next round of stimulus legislation,” he says.

Cooper says he expects the House to pass the bill when it’s brought to a vote on Friday. He says RFA will work with Senate leaders to ensure it keeps moving forward.

Audio: Geoff Cooper

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