USDA Agencies in California to Hold Twelve Public Meetings on Biofuels

Public comments sought on how USDA agencies can assist California's biofuel's industry

DAVIS, Calif., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- California's USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and USDA Rural Development (RD), and the California Association of Resource Conservation & Development Councils, announce twelve public meetings, throughout the state, to solicit public comments on the subject of biofuels.  California's twelve Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Councils will each hold one meeting in their area of the state.

"USDA is working to expand energy opportunities by producing alternative forms of energy and fuel, and to ensure that we are doing the research necessary to allow agriculture to transition away from its rather significant dependence on fossil fuel," said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Topics to be discussed at the public meetings include sources of feedstock, the current local infrastructure to support biofuels, and the estimated land use needed in California for biofuels.  In addition, input is sought on how state and/or federal government agencies can better partner with the private sector to increase demand for biofuels, and suggestions on how government agencies can assist with infrastructure improvements in the private sector.

USDA agencies will consider each comment received at the public meetings when finalizing the USDA Biofuels Strategic Production Report, a Regional Roadmap to Meeting the Biofuels Goals of the Renewable Fuels Standard by 2022.  This report is part of the USDA effort to develop a comprehensive strategy to help recharge the rural American economy through the development of a successful biofuels market.

The first nine public meetings are scheduled for:

The remaining three RC&D councils will schedule meetings in the coming days.  Please contact the listed representative for more information.

Public comments can also be submitted by Oct 24, 2010, to Val Dolcini, FSA California state director at [email protected], for inclusion in the comments to be submitted.  The link to the report and the associated questions can be found at http://www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/biofuels.html.  

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SOURCE USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service