Washington, DC —
Senator John Thune released additional details today about the upcoming field hearing of the Energy Subcommittee of the Senate Ag Committee scheduled for Wednesday, April 4th in Brookings.
"I am looking forward to hearing the testimony of the witnesses that are scheduled to speak," said Thune. "I am hoping that people will come to the hearing and learn more about the role South Dakota will play in the future of growing our country's energy supply. Ethanol has transformed our path to reducing our dependence on foreign energy sources and we must continue to develop sustainable energy alternatives."
Over the next five years, the biofuels industry is expected to make significant progress toward commercial cellulosic ethanol production. The 2007 Farm Bill, which will establish farm and biofuels policy over this same period, will play a critical role in directing this development. South Dakota is on the forefront of ethanol production technology, and this hearing is a starting point for a national discussion on cellulosic energy production and the 2007 Farm Bill.
Testimony given and collected during the hearing will be entered into the official Senate record. Individuals and organizations wishing to submit testimony in writing are encouraged to do so and should contact Senator Thune's office with any questions.
Details of the program are as follows:
WHEN: 10:00 AM CT, Wednesday, April 4, 2007
EVENT: U.S. Senate Ag Committee Energy Subcommittee Field Hearing
TITLE: "The Next Generation of Biofuels: Cellulosic Ethanol and the 2007 Farm Bill"
WHERE: Volstorff Ballroom, University Student Union,
South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
WITNESSES: Don Endres, Chairman and CEO, VeraSun Energy
Jeff Fox, VP Legal and Governmental Affairs, Broin Companies
Reid Jensen, South Dakota Corn Growers
Kevin Kephart, VP of Research, Dean of Graduate School, Director of the Sun Grant Initiative for the North Central Region, SDSU
Dave Nomsen, National Legislative Director, Pheasants Forever
Anna Rath, Director of Business Development, Ceres, Inc.
"I am looking forward to hearing the testimony of the witnesses that are scheduled to speak," said Thune. "I am hoping that people will come to the hearing and learn more about the role South Dakota will play in the future of growing our country's energy supply. Ethanol has transformed our path to reducing our dependence on foreign energy sources and we must continue to develop sustainable energy alternatives."
Over the next five years, the biofuels industry is expected to make significant progress toward commercial cellulosic ethanol production. The 2007 Farm Bill, which will establish farm and biofuels policy over this same period, will play a critical role in directing this development. South Dakota is on the forefront of ethanol production technology, and this hearing is a starting point for a national discussion on cellulosic energy production and the 2007 Farm Bill.
Testimony given and collected during the hearing will be entered into the official Senate record. Individuals and organizations wishing to submit testimony in writing are encouraged to do so and should contact Senator Thune's office with any questions.
Details of the program are as follows:
WHEN: 10:00 AM CT, Wednesday, April 4, 2007
EVENT: U.S. Senate Ag Committee Energy Subcommittee Field Hearing
TITLE: "The Next Generation of Biofuels: Cellulosic Ethanol and the 2007 Farm Bill"
WHERE: Volstorff Ballroom, University Student Union,
South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
WITNESSES: Don Endres, Chairman and CEO, VeraSun Energy
Jeff Fox, VP Legal and Governmental Affairs, Broin Companies
Reid Jensen, South Dakota Corn Growers
Kevin Kephart, VP of Research, Dean of Graduate School, Director of the Sun Grant Initiative for the North Central Region, SDSU
Dave Nomsen, National Legislative Director, Pheasants Forever
Anna Rath, Director of Business Development, Ceres, Inc.