Braley touts renewable resources

By Steven Martens | Wednesday, May 30, 2007

CLINTON, Iowa — U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley held out Archer Daniels Midland Co. as an example of companies working to end U.S. dependence on foreign oil Tuesday after touring the company’s Clinton plant.

Braley, an Iowa Democrat in his first term in Congress, said after the tour that he was visiting companies in his district that advance the use of renewable energy in order to become more familiar with the subject, which he said has become very important to lawmakers in Washington, D.C.

Included in Braley’s tour were two projects currently under construction, a $400 million energy-efficient co-generation plant and a $160 million plastics plant that will make biodegradable plastic out of corn milling byproducts.

Braley said such projects not only decrease dependence on foreign oil, they add value to Iowa farm products.

“They obviously have an enormous economic impact on communities like Clinton,” Braley said.

Steven Martens can be contacted at (563) 659-2595 or smartens@qctimes.com.