Vilsack, at Paris Air Show, talks biofuels for aviation use
June 23, 2011 | 12:54 PM | Filed in: Biofuels
PARIS — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said here Wednesday that a meeting with fuel and airline company executives at the Paris Air Show has reassured him that the United States is taking the right in path in developing biofuels, particularly for airline use.
In an interview, Vilsack said he spoke to a group of about 50 people involved in airline fuels shortly after he arrived from Washington to attend a meeting of the G20 agriculture ministers. The Paris Air Show is the largest airline industry event in the world.
Companies were “excited” about the possibility of using U.S. biofuels for aviation, Vilsack said, adding that he also stressed the United States is emphasizing the development of biofuels from nonfood stocks.
Congressional appropriators have recently voted to cut biofuels programs, but Vilsack said it is up to the Obama administration to show Congress that cutting biofuels subsidies “would be penny-wise and pound-foolish.”
Biofuels create jobs in rural America, he said, and the government loan guarantees are likely to be either a minor expense or paid back over time.
In an interview, Vilsack said he spoke to a group of about 50 people involved in airline fuels shortly after he arrived from Washington to attend a meeting of the G20 agriculture ministers. The Paris Air Show is the largest airline industry event in the world.
Companies were “excited” about the possibility of using U.S. biofuels for aviation, Vilsack said, adding that he also stressed the United States is emphasizing the development of biofuels from nonfood stocks.
Congressional appropriators have recently voted to cut biofuels programs, but Vilsack said it is up to the Obama administration to show Congress that cutting biofuels subsidies “would be penny-wise and pound-foolish.”
Biofuels create jobs in rural America, he said, and the government loan guarantees are likely to be either a minor expense or paid back over time.
