The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Kate McMahon, 202-222-0715, KmcMahon@foe.org
Nick Berning 202-222-0748, Nberning@foe.org

Congressman Collin Peterson Wins Biofool of the Year Award

Congressman recognized for to giving billions in subsidies to dirty and inefficient biofuel companies

WASHINGTON

Congressman Collin Peterson, chairman
of the powerful House Agriculture Committee, prevailed against tough
competition to receive Friends of the Earth's annual Biofool of the Year
award, which was delivered to his office on Monday.

With almost 2,300 votes, Chairman
Peterson was the clear winner amongst the five nominees. His past
Biofoolery includes: demanding that the EPA stop factoring deforestation
into environmental impact assessments of biofuels, trying to exempt
dirty biofuels from key global warming standards, and trying to open
forests and natural areas for biofuels exploitation.

Friends of the Earth Energy Policy
Campaigner Kate McMahon had the following comment:

"It is no surprise that Rep. Peterson
won the Biofool of the Year award.Over the past year, he has
consistently attacked safeguards against pollution from biofuels despite
overwhelming evidence that today's biofuels are bad for the environment
and contribute to food insecurity."

Peterson is currently co-sponsoring H.R. 4940, which extends billions
of dollars in tax credits to oil companies for conventional corn
ethanol production, despite scientific analysis indicating that corn
ethanol creates more greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline. Corn
ethanol also contributes to water pollution, habitat destruction, soil
erosion and health issues from pesticide and herbicide use.

Friends of the Earth President Erich
Pica joined McMahon to present Congressman Peterson with a certificate, a
congratulatory petition signed by over 700 people, and a celebratory
can of corn. A video of the presentation is available at: https://www.foe.org/happy-biofools-day.

Friends of the Earth's annual Biofool of the Year Award was
established to recognize leaders that promote dirty biofuels. The 2009
winner was Hugh Grant of Monsanto.

Friends of the Earth fights for a more healthy and just world. Together we speak truth to power and expose those who endanger the health of people and the planet for corporate profit. We organize to build long-term political power and campaign to change the rules of our economic and political systems that create injustice and destroy nature.

(202) 783-7400