Senate confirms Rollins to USDA post
Brooke Rollins testifies before U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on Jan. 23.
February 18, 2025
BY Erin Voegele
The U.S. Senate on Feb. 13 voted 72 to 28 to confirm Brooke Rollins to serve as secretary of agriculture. Representatives of the biofuel and bioenergy industries have spoken out in support of her confirmation.
Trump in November 2024 announced his intent to nominate Rollins to lead the USDA. Rollins served during the first Trump administration in the White House’s Office of American Innovation. She also previously served as a policy director in the office of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, as president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation and as president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute. During a confirmation hearing held Jan. 23, Rollins discussed her support for biofuels and addressed concerns over her ties to the oil industry.
“Throughout the confirmation process, we were encouraged to hear Secretary Rollins state that renewable fuels like ethanol will be a big part of President Trump’s energy dominance strategy and that she will defend and elevate all sources of American-made energy,” said Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. “At a time when the farm economy is struggling, we encourage Secretary Rollins to use all of the tools in USDA’s toolbox to open and expand markets for ethanol and its valuable coproducts. Indeed, the best way to boost rural America is to boost renewable fuels, and we are confident Secretary Rollins will continue USDA’s legacy of supporting this quintessential American industry. We look forward to working with Secretary Rollins to help ensure that lower-cost, cleaner-burning ethanol remains a vital part of our liquid fuel mix into the future, supporting energy independence and the rural economy.”
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“USDA Secretary Rollins made it clear during her confirmation hearings that she understands the key role America’s farmers and biofuel producers will play in President Trump’s efforts to restore rural prosperity and unleash U.S. energy dominance,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “We look forward to working with her to create jobs, rebuild farm revenues, and ensure that all Americans can save money at the pump by expanding access to homegrown biofuels.”
“We congratulate Brooke Rollins on her confirmation to lead USDA and look forward to working with her on our priority issues, including advancing our USDA RCPP projects aimed at ensuring farmers and biofuel producers get properly rewarded for sustainable farming practices under clean fuel programs and tax incentives such as the 45Z Clean Fuel Production credit,” said Brian Jennings, CEO of ACE. “As 45Z guidance is finalized by the Trump Treasury, we will encourage Secretary Rollins to leverage USDA's guidelines for crops used as biofuel feedstocks to help maximize opportunities for farmers and ethanol producers.
“We will also engage USDA on promoting further biofuel infrastructure funding opportunities for E15 and E85, as well as strengthening existing export and new SAF market opportunities,” Jennings added.
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“The American Biogas Council and its member companies congratulate Ms. Rollins on her confirmation, and we look forward to working with her to support farmers and rural communities in adding more biogas projects,” said Patrick Serfass, executive director of the ABC.
“Biogas operations in agriculture allow farmers to use animal waste as a resource, producing domestic energy that contributes to the Administration’s goal of energy dominance,” he added. “They also provide American-made natural fertilizer that enhances crop yields and foods’ nutritive value. In addition, biogas projects deliver an important source of income for many farmers and bring economic growth to farming communities across the nation.
“The number of biogas projects in agriculture grew by 24% last year, and more than 8,000 additional farms could install biogas systems,” Serfass continued. “The ABC is excited to continue its support of farmers as this sector grows and these facilities become an increasingly important part of farming operations.”
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