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In conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency's rule announcement, the heads of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Energy and EPA also announced the creation of the Biofuels Interagency Working Group, which will create the nation's first comprehensive biofuel market development program, identify new policy options to improve the environmental sustainability of biofuel feedstock production and develop policies to increase flexible-fuel vehicle production and assist in retail marketing efforts.
In response to recommendations from the Governors' Biofuels Coalition, President Barack Obama issued a presidential directive charging key members of his Administration with shepherding the development of the U.S. biofuel industry.
In addition to creating the Biofuels Interagency Working Group, the President directed the secretary of agriculture to pursue other biofuels development efforts in coordination with state and local governments.
Obama requested that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack begin refinancing existing investments in renewable fuels as needed to preserve jobs in ethanol and biodiesel plants, renewable electricity generation plants and supporting industries.
He also tasked Vilsack with presenting a plan within 30 days to make available the renewable energy financing opportunities from the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.
The formation of the working group was widely praised by those involved in the biofuels industry.
Policy is one of the most important issues facing farmers today, but often the most difficult to digest. Jacqui Fatka has a passion to decode the often difficult world of agricultural policy into terms understandable for today's ag players.
Fatka joined the Farm Progress team as E-Content Editor in August 2003 after graduating from Iowa State University. Prior to full-time employment with Farm Progress, she interned at Wallaces Farmer magazine, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley's press office and the Iowa Pork Producers Association and freelanced for National Hog Farmer. She also worked as a public relations consultant with Iowa Industries for the Future, an effort to bring together major players in the biorenewables industry.
Currently Fatka is a staff editor at a sister publication, Feedstuffs. For Farm Futures she regularly tells the story of ongoing agricultural policy changes. Her byline can also be found on management profiles.
Fatka grew up on a grain and livestock farm near Atlantic, Iowa. She currently lives in central Ohio with her husband Eric.
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