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"We are very upset with the path EPA has taken us down and sent that message back loud and clear in today's hearing," said Chairman Tim Holden of Pennsylvania. "If we continue with these provisions in EISA, we will not only harm the biofuels industry but also shortchange a large part of the country before we even get started. We need to expand the reach of biofuels, not hamper the farmer
and forest owner."
"The arbitrary restrictions in the renewable fuel standard will limit the potential biomass to meet the renewable fuels mandate. I am in favor of the development of advanced renewable fuels, but more importantly I am in favor of developing a policy that allows the market to develop next generation renewable energy," said Subcommittee Ranking Member Bob Goodlatte of Virginia.
In December 2007, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) greatly expanded the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and required that all biofuels produced from facilities built after the enactment achieve a reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions.
The law also contains restrictions in the definition of "renewable biomass" that limit the eligibility of feedstocks from federal lands as well as private forestlands.
On Tuesday, the Environmental Protection Agency released its proposed rule for the implementation of the new RFS and opened the period for public comment.
The rule calculates the lifecycle emissions of each fuel, relative to the gasoline or diesel fuel it would replace, and includes emissions from all stages of production. In this process, biofuels are charged with emissions from indirect land use, while gasoline is not.
The provisions discussed Wednesday were last minute additions to EISA that were never debated, and members of the Committee have worked to get them changed for the past two years.
This is the second hearing the subcommittee has held on implementation of the RFS. In the first, held in July of last year, Members discussed the renewable biomass and agriculture producer eligibility.
The opening statements of all witnesses are available on the committee Web site at http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/index.html.
A full transcript of the hearing will be posted on the committee Web site at a later date.
Witness List:
Panel I
– Dr. Joe Glauber, Chief Economist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
– Ms. Margo T. Oge, Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Washington, D.C.
Panel II
– Dr. Bruce A. Babcock, Director, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
– Mr. R. Brooke Coleman, Executive Director, New Fuels Alliance, Boston, Massachusetts
– Mr. Nick Bowdish, General Manager, Platinum Ethanol, Arthur, Iowa
– Mr. Manning Feraci, Vice President of Fedearl Affairs, National Biodiesel Board, Washington, D.C.
– Mr. Michael Pechart, Deputy Secretary for Marketing and Economic Development, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
– Ms. Anitra Webster, family forest owner, on behalf of American Forest Foundation, Lynchburg, Virginia.
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The May 7 series will feature the return of guest speaker Sandra West, co-owner of the Edgewater Resort and co-facilitator of Mt. Konocti Facilitation, will be giving a presentation titled "Co-Opetition vs. Competition," a concept that creates loyal customers and guarantees them a pleasurable local shopping experience.
West gave her first presentation on March 19 about marketing during tough economic times called “Market your existing customer to create new customers.”
Pam Harpster, program director of Mendocino Works Employment Resource Centers and their Lake County counterpart, Bill Jacobson from the Lake County One-Stop will give a presentation about the local needs of those affected by the current economic situation (lay offs, downsizing, etc.) along with services and opportunities that are available for both job seekers and business owners in Lake and Mendocino counties.
Economic historian and free market advocate Hal Bryan will offer updates on the current market situation and report his progress on the "Blue Lakes Model – A Survival Guide for Small Businesses," with emphasis on event-driven rather than time-driven guidelines.
Sponsors Shannon Ridge and Mendocino Brewing Company will provide refreshments. Shannon Baker will be food pairing with wine and Joan’s English Toffee will provide delicious toffee. The band “Class of 63”, will be providing music for our listening pleasure.
Attendees are encouraged to experience not only the evening, but the hospitality offered at the Lodge At Blue Lakes by spending the entire evening with us and will receive our special “Friends and Family” room discount.
To RVSP for the “Thursday Evenings with the Schmid’s” and accommodation reservations please email
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The markets will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday from June 25 through Aug. 27.
There will be local artists, vendors, music and good old-fashioned family fun for all.
Vendors who will complement but not compete with the businesses located in the Middletown Plaza are currently being sought.
The limit is eight vendors. The cost is $15 per week for a 10 foot by 10 foot space. Sign up for 10 weeks and get two weeks for free, for a cost of $120 for the entire summer.
The Middletown Plaza is located at the corner of Highway 29 and Wardlaw.
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CalPERS contends that Lewis and other directors failed to disclose information to shareowners in connection with Bank of America’s merger with Merrill Lynch. The pension fund also believes that the undisclosed payment of billions of dollars in bonuses to Merrill Lynch executives – before completion of the merger - warrants a vote against all directors.
“The entire board failed in its duties to shareowners and should be removed,” said CalPERS Board President Rob Feckner.
He noted the poor condition of the company, the failure by directors to disclose the extent of Merrill Lynch’s losses prior to consummation of the merger, the payment of billions of dollars to Merrill executives in bonuses for failure, and the failure of the board to act in the best interests of shareowners in overseeing management.
According to news reports, Bank of America directors allowed more than $3.6 billion in bonuses to be paid to Merrill Lynch executives and that the payment date was stepped up several months - prior to completion of the merger transaction. They also failed to fully disclose the true financial condition of Merrill Lynch until after the merger was completed last fall.
At the company’s April 29 annual meeting, CalPERS will withhold votes for Lewis; Temple Sloan Jr., lead director, Compensation Committee chairman; Thomas Ryan, Nominating & Governance Committee chairman; and directors Jackie Ward, Robert Tillman, Monica Lozano, Walter Massey, Thomas May, Patricia Mitchell, William Barnet, III, Frank Bramble, Sr., John Collins, Gary Countryman, Tommy Franks, and Charles Gifford. CalPERS also opposes Merrill Lynch directors who were added in January 2009: Virgis W. Colbert, Joseph Prueher, and Charles Rossotti.
If the board is removed, CalPERS believes that a special election should be called to place a new slate of directors on the board in an orderly and effective manner. As a long-term shareowner, CalPERS is willing to assist the company in this process.
CalPERS owns 22.7 million Bank of America shares.
CalPERS has approximately $176 billion in assets and is the largest U.S. public pension fund. It administers retirement benefits for more than 1.6 million active and retired State, public school, and local public agency employees and their families on behalf of 2,600 California public employers. For additional CalPERS proxy votes and corporate governance information, visit www.calpers-governance.org.