LINCOLN — Under his administration, Governor Ricketts and the State of Nebraska have worked to grow demand for locally-produced renewable fuels in the state, across the country, and around the world. The Governor’s efforts to expand the biofuels industry has led to investments in production facilities and helped support a robust Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). These efforts include:
· Advocating for Renewable Fuels on a National Level: Governor Ricketts has sat down with top U.S. officials, including President Trump, to highlight the importance of biofuels to Nebraska. Last year, the Governor visited Washington, D.C. for a roundtable with the President and leaders from across the U.S. to discuss energy, where he highlighted the innovative advancements in Nebraska’s biofuels production. In April, the Governor once again visited D.C. to discuss agriculture and trade, where the President expressed his support for E-15 sales for non-flex fuel vehicles all year long. Earlier this month, Governor Ricketts joined U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in Alliance for a fireside chat. At the fireside chat, the Secretary and Governor discussed a variety of agricultural issues with Nebraskans, including the ethanol industry’s concerns about the number of RFS waivers the EPA has granted to oil refineries.
· Growing Investment & Opportunity in the Biofuels Industry: Governor Ricketts, his administration, and industry officials have successfully recruited and supported new investment in the state’s ethanol industry. Nebraska has won back-to-back Site Selection Magazine Governor’s Cups, and the investment and growth in Nebraska’s biofuels infrastructure and industry were key components to achieving these awards. Over the years, the Governor has visited, toured, and helped cut ribbons on a variety of biofuel facilities throughout Nebraska. These include KAAPA Ethanol in Ravenna, Novozymes in Blair, and E Energy in Adams among many others. Novozymes’ investment in Blair followed a 2015 trade mission to Denmark where Governor Ricketts visited their headquarters and encouraged them to expand their commitment to Nebraska.
· Collaborating with Public Officials & Leaders in the Biofuels Industry: Governor Ricketts has traveled around the state and across the country advocating on behalf of the biofuels industry. For the past couple years, Governor Ricketts has served as the vice-chair and chair of the Governor’s Biofuels Coalition (GBC). His work with GBC led the Governor to testify in support of the RFS in front of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in both Kansas City and Washington, D.C. The Governor is also a regular speaker at major biofuels events, including the American Coalition for Ethanol Annual Conference in 2017 and the Ethanol 2018: Emerging Issues Forum.
· Investing in Biofuels Infrastructure: Each year, Governor Ricketts proclaims May as Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska to highlight the big impact biofuels have on our state’s economy. This year, the Governor celebrated Renewable Fuels Month in Grand Island at the Bosselman Travel Center to cut the ribbon on their new flex fuel pumps and help pump E-15 and E-85 gas for motorists. Over the past couple of years, the Governor’s team and the Nebraska Energy Office have been working with the Corn Board and Ethanol Board to install more flex fuel pumps in communities across the state. As new flex fuel pumps like these pop up across Nebraska, demand for biofuels will grow even more.
— Office of Governor Pete Ricketts
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