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RFA welcomes COVID aid for biofuels producers

The Renewable Fuels Association is welcoming targeted COVID relief for biofuel producers.

RFA communications director Ken Colombini tells Brownfield this is the first time USDA specifically mentions biofuels in a coronavirus aid package.

“And (we’re also pleased) it’s going to be coming out in the next 60 days, which is pretty quick for things coming out of Washington.”

He says the $700 million in emergency relief comes as biofuel producers continue to recover from demand shortages caused by the pandemic.

“We are making progress in ethanol production and are going back to the way things used to be in terms of production, but we still have producers out there who are still struggling to recover from what happened last year.”

And now ethanol plants are dealing with historically high feedstock costs.

“Corn prices are up (and) other prices are up, so that’s something that ethanol plants are dealing with. So we do hope (the COVID relief) can help.”

CEO Geoff Cooper says RFA looks forward to learning more about the assistance from USDA and is eager to work with the department to ensure smooth and successful implementation.

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