DuPont Senior Vice President James C. Collins Details Serious Consequences of Altering the Renewable Fuel Standard in Testimony to U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works Committee

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- DuPont Senior Vice President James C. Collins will testify today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works (EPW) regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and a proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would fundamentally alter the volumes of biofuels required to be blended into the transportation fuel supply.  Headquartered in Wilmington, Del., DuPont is a leader in the research and development of biofuels, and will open the nation's largest, commercial scale, cellulosic ethanol plant next year.

Collins' testimony will detail the investments DuPont has made in the industry because of the stability of the RFS, and the policy's impact on increasing energy security, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening rural economies.  Collins will further testify that these investments, and the innovation the RFS has spurred, could be jeopardized by the EPA proposal.

"I firmly believe that reversing course on this policy would have devastating effects.  Short term, it would inject uncertainty into an improving economy with job and tax revenue loss. Long term, we risk much more.  We would find ourselves shipping these technologies, jobs, and environmental benefits overseas to countries with more stable policy environments."

DuPont has been working on biofuels for close to a decade and is a major technology supplier to the grain ethanol industry.  The company also is on the cusp of commercializing two groundbreaking initiatives in advanced renewable fuels.

In the second half of 2014, the company will open a $200 million plus cellulosic ethanol facility that will produce 30 million gallons of fuel each year.  Located in Nevada, Iowa, the plant will create approximately 70 full-time permanent jobs and more than 1,000 construction jobs.  By purchasing the corn stover from surrounding farms, the project will provide a new source of income to more than 500 local farmers and also employ 150 local seasonal workers to collect, transport and store the feedstock.

Beyond the production of clean, domestic renewable fuel, the plant's entire operation will be greenhouse gas neutral.  In other words, the supply chain meets a standard that other industries cannot.  It is fully sustainable and has zero net CO2 emissions.

In addition to cellulosic ethanol, DuPont has partnered with BP in a 50/50 joint venture named Butamax™.  The partnership has developed and extensively tested biobutanol, a fuel that when blended in a 16 percent isobutanol gasoline blend, meets E10 fuel specification, is compatible with existing vehicles and infrastructure, and has twice the renewable energy content of E10.

Collins concluded his remarks by saying, "These are both tremendously exciting technologies coming online that squarely put the United States in a leadership position in the global biofuels market," and reconfirmed the company's commitment to the renewable fuels industry by adding that DuPont has, "been a symbol of American ingenuity and market-driven innovation for over two centuries and we aren't stopping now."

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802.  The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment.  For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.

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SOURCE DuPont