National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Bill Donald says the Fuel Feedstock Freedom Act – introduced by a bipartisan group of Congressmen – is a big step toward leveling the playing field for a bushel of corn. Backed by NCBA – the measure amends the Clean Air Act to allow states to opt out of the corn ethanol portion of the renewable fuel standard and to broaden eligibility of the cellulosic biofuels carve out by redefining “cellulosic biofuels” as “next generation biofuels” to allow non-ethanol sources of renewable fuel.

Donald says the new “feedstock neutral” definition will allow the development of non-ethanol advanced biofuels. Also – if a state legislature votes to opt out of the corn-ethanol portion of the RFS and the state’s governor signs the bill into law – the Environmental Protection Agency would reduce the national corn-based ethanol mandate by the national gasoline consumption percentage that is attributable to that state.

According to NCBA – member-passed policy supports the nation’s commitment to reducing our dependence on foreign oil and that includes ethanol. But Donald says they don’t support propping up an industry that should be able to stand on its own two feet. He says this bill applies some much needed common sense to renewable energy policy. He says it’s time to take the training wheels off of the corn-based ethanol industry.

The Fuel Feedstock Freedom Act was introduced in the Senate by James Inhofe of Oklahoma and Olympia Snowe of Maine. California’s Brian Bilbray and Darrell Issa, Oklahoma’s Dan Boren and Virginia’s Jim Moran introduced the House companion. NCBA is urging all members of Congress to support the bill.