Obama’s nomination today of ex-Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as his U.S. ag secretary has generally drawn rave reviews from the ag community and Washington folks. But you have to figure those in the renewable fuels industry are particularly pleased with the selection.
After all, Vilsack comes from a state that has 29 ethanol plants, the most of any state. The ethanol industry can use all the friends in Washington it can round up with gas prices still down and oil projected to perhaps dip below $30 in 2009. Only last week a second ethanol plant in Iowa, Pine Lake Corn Processors, filed for bankruptcy.
Vilsack was also an early backer of developing wind energy.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, the ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, said he was looking forward to working with Vilsack.
Chuck Hassebrook, executive director of the Center for Rural Affairs, which represents small communities and small farmers in the Midwest, said, “I think he’s a good choice to implement the vision of rural American that President-elect Obama put forth in the campaign.
Hassebrook had applied for the job himself after growing discouraged with the reported list of possible nominees. “There were people on the list who weren’t very interested in the things we care about,” Hassebrook said. “He is.”
Craig Cox, now the Iowa-based Midwest vice president of the Environmental Working Group, said Vilsack will bring a broad view of agriculture to the Cabinet.
“It’s encouraging that the White House understands that the Department of Agriculture is about much, much more than farm subsidies,” he said.
After dropping out as a presidential candidate very early in the race, Vilsack endorsed Hillary Clinton. When she quit, Vilsack backed Obama. That apparently was enough to satisfy Obama.
Meanwhile, Washington sources indicate that Karen Ross, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers, will be named ag’s deputy secretary.
