U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., introduced bipartisan legislation to enhance the ability of the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Products Assistance program to support the development of advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased products.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity (Ag BIO) Act&nbsp;will update the underlying loan guarantee program and restore a grant program to support public-private partnership investment in pilot and demonstration-scale facility development.“Developing our biomanufacturing capabilities is good for our farmers and good for our economy,”&nbsp;said Klobuchar.&nbsp;“This legislation will create jobs and strengthen the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Products Assistance program, while also solidifying America as a leading manufacturer of these products.”“Investing in the bioeconomy will provide new markets for our farmers while furthering the goal of domestic manufacturing, supply chain resiliency and energy security,” said Moran.&nbsp;“Developing innovative products like advanced biofuels will provide new and better products using home-grown feedstocks, creating new jobs and driving our economy forward.”“The Ag BIO Act represents a strategic investment that will be necessary if American manufacturing is going to lead the world in the production of plant-based materials,”&nbsp;said James Glueck, Executive Director of the Plant Based Products Council. “This bill provides a clear pathway to scale up biomanufacturing capacity, open new markets for farmers, and build more resilient domestic supply chains. The Ag BIO Act is more than a piece of legislation — it’s a much-needed tool for revitalizing rural economies and advancing a modern manufacturing strategy grounded in American agriculture,” Glueck added. “We are grateful to Sens. Klobuchar and Moran for their leadership and vision.”“This legislation represents a strategic investment in the future of rural America and the farmers, workers, and innovators who fuel our economy,”&nbsp;said John Bode, President and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association.&nbsp;“By backing next-generation biomanufacturing, the Ag BIO Act will help cement U.S. leadership in sustainable innovation while delivering economic opportunity where it’s needed most.”“The Ag Energy Coalition applauds Senators Klobuchar and Moran for proposing bipartisan legislation to modernize the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Manufacturing Assistance Program as part of the upcoming farm bill.&nbsp; Biorefineries are the lifeblood of rural America in terms of driving manufacturing innovations, building new agriculture markets, and creating jobs and economic opportunity,"&nbsp;said Lloyd Ritter, Ag Energy Coalition.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Revitalizing this program will help build and expand facilities to produce everything from SAF to biobased products and renewable chemicals. That is an essential investment in the nation's energy and bioeconomy transformation and in a rural economic renaissance."&nbsp;“The Ag BIO Act is important to the future of our nation’s ag bioeconomy. The U.S. can, and should, be the world leader in bioproduct research, development, and manufacturing, and the investments in this bill will go a long way to help make that happen,”&nbsp;said Kent Roberson, Ag Bioeconomy Spokesperson. “In a future with a strong American ag bioeconomy, farmers will benefit from new markets for their feedstocks, consumers will have more options to satisfy their needs, and workers will have good-paying jobs close to home. We’re excited to see the bipartisan Ag BIO Act introduced and are eager to help Congress enact this important legislation.”&nbsp;Klobuchar has been a long-time supporter of biofuels and biomanufacturing.&nbsp;In January, Klobuchar and Moran joined Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) reintroduced the Farm to Fly Act, which would help accelerate the production and development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs to allow further growth for alternative fuels to be used in the aviation sector and create new markets for American farmers.&nbsp;

2025-08-06 - Klobuchar, Moran introduce bipartisan legislation to support biorefineries, renewable chemicals, and biomanufacturing (4 publications)

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Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., on July 31 announced the introduction of the Ag BIO Act. The legislation aims to update the USDA’s loan guarantee program to better support biorefining projects. 

Klobuchar, Moran introduce bipartisan legislation to support biorefineries, renewable chemicals, and biomanufacturing

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