Keynote Address
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley
Chuck Grassley, a life-long family farmer, long has been an outspoken advocate for developing domestically produced alternative, renewable energy. In the 1990s, he worked to create the clean air mandate that set the stage for expanded ethanol production and use, and he led the fight to extend the ethanol program for 10 years. In his role as the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Grassley expanded and extended tax incentives for wind energy production, which he first authored in 1992, and he created and expanded tax incentives for biodiesel and biomass energy sources. Senator Grassley was a leading proponent of the Renewable Fuels Standard in the 2005 national energy bill. He has sponsored legislation to have 25 percent of America’s energy come from renewable sources by 2025, and has steadfastly opposed efforts to undermine the expansion of ethanol production in the United States by prematurely lifting the tariff on Brazilian ethanol.
Senator Chuck Grassley believes that conscientious stewardship of the land, the water, and the air is second nature for anyone who lives, works, and raises a family on a farm. Senator Grassley believes it is the responsibility of policymakers in the 21st century to ensure that the environment is preserved by fostering research and production of green power.