The proposed Grain Belt Express Clean Line high voltage transmission line had a bad week. The Missouri Public Service Commission discussed the transmission line where a majority of commissioners voiced opposition to the electric line.

 

The staff of the Illinois Commerce Commission recommended that the GBECL application under expedited review be denied as the company does not meet the broad qualifications to apply for expedited review. Basically, the company is not a qualified utility. Farm Bureau filed a motion to dismiss the application.

 

In a news release, GBECL expressed disappointment with the MPSC discussion. They will review their options which include an effort to get approval from the Federal government to condemn property.

Congress was clear in its intent regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard, AFBF President Bob Stallman said in a statement last week. "The United States can and should produce significantly more ethanol for the nation's cars and trucks than the EPA has proposed," Stallman said. He noted that the RFS has produced jobs, decreased reliance on imported oil and contributed to cleaner air.

 

The EPA recently released targets for the nation's RFS, which determines how much ethanol will be blended into the nation's gasoline supplies. The new requirements for 2015-2016 are 16.3 billion and 17.4 billion gallons - significantly short of the standard mandated by Congress. The EPA proposal is open for comment until July 27 with a final rule expected by Nov. 30.

Observed annually in June, National Safety Month focuses attention on reducing the leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road and in homes and communities. To recognize National Safety Month, many Farm Bureaus focus on ways to make work and home lives safer for all. Join Farm Bureau, along with the National Safety Council and thousands of other organizations across the country, to help raise awareness of what it takes to stay safe.

 

FBlog post