Biodiesel supporters need to call today and ask that this be acted upon IMMEDIATELY!

Posted on: Sun, 02/21/2010 - 11:57 — mwidboom

Biodiesel supporters need to call today and ask that this be acted upon IMMEDIATELY!
 
The Minnesota Soybean Growers association calls on farmers and Biodiesel Supporters to Save the Biodiesel Tax Incentive and Thousands of Minnesota jobs - Please call NOW!
Earlier this week MSGA called upon Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken to work quickly with Senate leaders to reinstate the $1 per gallon biodiesel tax credit in the first piece of legislation that can pass the Senate in order to save nearly 2,000 jobs both directly and indirectly related to Minnesota's biodiesel industry. 
This action came after an announcement late last week that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) removed the biodiesel tax credit extension from the quickly moving HIRE legislation.
"Minnesota soybean producers have a significant investment in the success of both our biodiesel industry and rural communities," said Bill Zurn, MSGA President. "MSGA was extremely disappointed by the elimination of the tax incentive extension because it is one way to immediately put people back to work in our state."
According to the National Biodiesel Board, biodiesel production has ground to a halt and more than 29,000 jobs are at risk or have already been lost across the industry since the tax credit lapsed on January 1, 2010.
In Minnesota, most biodiesel production facilities continue to operate to meet the demands of the state's B5 requirement, but they are doing so at a significantly reduced rate. It is only a matter of time before the industry begins operating at a loss, causing even more layoffs. There is also mounting concern that there may be a shift in the ownership of biodiesel plants.
"As financial losses for biodiesel plants mount due to the apparent lack of federal support, more facilities will be consolidated and it is likely that oil companies and refiners will be purchasing plants rather than maintaining the local ownership," said Chuck Neece, Director of FUMPA BioFuels.
Minnesota’s US Senator offices say they are not hearing a lot of concern from the countryside regarding the extension of this credit. They are also saying they will get it included in the “next bill”. The reality is that there is NO NEXT BILL!
If you support Minnesota’s biodiesel industry you must call Senators Klobuchar and Franken as soon as possible. Tell them the biodiesel tax credit is important because it will save thousands of jobs in rural communities AND the biodiesel industry that agriculture has worked so hard to build.