An energy bill will be debated in congress this week and today, Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin met with a variety of South Dakota Energy representatives to offer her insights on the legislation.

There isn't a final bill in place just yet, but Representative Herseth Sandlin says a major piece of the energy bill is the Renewable Fuels Standard. It would bring higher demand for two South Dakota products, corn and ethanol.

The renewable fuels standard in the energy bill passed by the House sets a gradual increase in the percent of ethanol used in the United States.

If the legislation passes, the requirement for 2008 is 9 billion gallons of renewable fuel; that number goes up to 36 billion gallons by 2022. 

Representative Herseth Sandlin said, "I think we're where we need to be with the renewable fuels standard with a more aggressive target date for cellulosic ethanol, but also insuring corn ethanol isn't shoved out of the way."
 
She discussed the developments today with a group of South Dakota energy, corn and ethanol officials. 

Executive director of the South Dakota Corn Growers, Lisa Richardson said, "As they plan their long term commitments this is a market share that is 5 billion. Right now we export about 2 billion bushels, that's 2 and a half times our export."

Many feel this energy bill will set the groundwork for America to cut back on importing oil from foreign countries. 

Poet Ethanol spokesperson, Rob Skjonsberg said, "Its valuable from a South Dakota standpoint, from producers standpoint, but its about incredibly important from the United States standpoint that we move forward truly from being dependant on foreign energy."

The Senate still has the chance to change the energy bill, but Herseth Sandlin believes the Renewable Fuels Standard will be a part of it. 

"Its a really exciting time, we're on the one yard line, and signs are good and were hoping it's the Christmas present South Dakota receives," Said Skjonsberg.

The senate is currently debating the farm bill and will work on the energy bill towards the end of the week. Representative Herseth Sandlin says the plan is to have both bills ready for the president to sign by the end of the year.