Washington-Agriculture interests are cheering the Senate for passing energy legislation that supporters said would help break the dependence on foreign sources by opening 8.3 million acres in the central Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas development. The bipartisan Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (S3711) was approved Aug. 1 by a 71-25 vote, but needs to be reconciled with a more expansive version that passed the House in June. Key House members reacted immediately, saying that both chambers already are in agreement that more deep energy must be produced, and promising to work in conference to reach an agreement on the differences. The Agriculture Energy Alliance (AEA) said its members, representing 106 farm groups, will support legislation that will provide an enhanced role for development of offshore energy resources leading to a more diverse portfolio and additional supplies of natural gas. TFI President Ford West remarked that expanding deep water drilling is a critical first step in correcting the “artificial supply-demand imbalance created by 15 years of U.S. government policy.” He urged the Senate and House to work together this fall in the remaining days of the session to reconcile the two bills to ensure deepwater drilling legislation is sent to the President this year.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain