{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=ED621B00-01BE-4D3B-B6E7-30DD346A3AFC", "Weekly Column: South Dakota Energy", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Kristi Noem \r\n\tPeople get the \u201cDakotas\u201d confused all the time. I can\u2019t tell you how many times people in DC have asked me about the impact of the oil boom in our state, having little idea that the Bakken oil field largely rests north of South Dakota\u2019s border. Even without the oil reserves, however, our state plays a role in filling the nation\u2019s gas tanks, contributing the resources needed to produce renewable fuels, like ethanol and biodiesel.\r\nAs many reading this know, I have spent most of my life growing corn and soybeans.\u00a0 These crops are staples of the American food supply, but these commodities are becoming a part of our domestic fuel supply too. With advances in technology, we are growing more on fewer acres and are using that efficiency to diversify the market. This year, about 26 percent of the soybean oil consumed in the U.S. will be used for biodiesel production and around 5 billion bushels of corn will be used for ethanol.\u00a0 Turning corn and soybeans into fuel not only opens the door for better prices and greater market stability, but also offers broader benefits for our national economy and security.\r\nThe biodiesel industry alone supports nearly 50,000 U.S. jobs and ethanol supports tens of thousands more.\u00a0 These are plant workers, researchers and engineers.\u00a0 They\u2019re truckers and salespeople.\u00a0 They\u2019re members of our community who turn around and support local economies, spending money at area businesses and supporting schools and infrastructure with their tax dollars.\u00a0 It\u2019s a fuel that invests \u2013 and then reinvests again \u2013 in America.\r\nOn the flip side, around one-third of petroleum used in America is derived from foreign sources.\u00a0 This means the United States spends more than $300 billion each year on imported crude oil.\u00a0 Many times, the oil is coming from volatile areas of the world and countries that are wary of America\u2019s continued prosperity.\u00a0 Every step we take toward energy independence is a step we take toward security. That\u2019s why we need to invest in both fossil fuels and renewable fuels.\r\nWhile biofuel production has grown quite a bit in recent years, it still makes up only a small portion of the overall market.\u00a0 Since our nation\u2019s founding, America has invested in new technologies like this, offering help until they\u2019re strong enough to stand on their own.\u00a0 Today, as part of an all-of-the-above American energy strategy, we must do the same for biofuels.\u00a0\r\nOne of the ways in which we encourage biofuel growth is through the Renewable Fuel Standard \u2013 or RFS. The RFS sets annual goals for the amount of ethanol and biodiesel that must be incorporated into America\u2019s fuel supply.\u00a0 The EPA has often fallen short of what Congress proposed, particularly when it comes to ethanol requirements.\u00a0 Last month, however, for the first time in a number of years, the EPA brought the RFS in line with congressional goals.\u00a0 Since the RFS is re-examined each year, we must continue to hold the EPA accountable, ensuring the agency makes American-grown energy a priority for the future.\r\nVarious forms of energy also have different provisions in the tax code.\u00a0 For biodiesel, we offer a $1-per-gallon tax credit, which can result in cheaper fuel at the pump.\u00a0 Legislation I\u2019ve proposed would give more certainty regarding the tax credit\u2019s availability while also adjusting how the support is distributed.\u00a0 The change would ensure the incentive is encouraging American biodiesel production, not the importation of foreign biodiesel \u2013 a move consistent with our goal of achieving American energy independence.\u00a0\r\nMy number one responsibility is to keep the American people safe.\u00a0 Protecting economic opportunities comes in at a close second.\u00a0 By supporting homegrown fuels, we accomplish both while also distinguishing South Dakota as an energy-rich state.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=ED621B00-01BE-4D3B-B6E7-30DD346A3AFC"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4956751838326454, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}