A legislative fix for year-round E15 was recently dropped by Congressional lawmakers from the January government funding bill, as lawmakers instead form a “Rural Energy Council” task force in order to draft another compromise bill that seeks to include input from the petroleum industry. A vote on that bill is expected in February.
In response to this development, Ohio farmer and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Jed Bower released the following statement:
“Corn growers are disgusted, disappointed and disillusioned that after spending years of calling for passage of E15, Congress has again punted, and it has done so in a spectacularly weak and offensive way. Bizarrely, members of Congress are now planning to establish a rural energy council to explore this legislation as if we are in the beginning stages of discussing E15. We already have a bill. We already have an agreement with the petroleum industry after months of negotiation. But instead of acting, Congress is now suggesting a process-ridden task force that kicks the can down the road once again. Congress is choosing to leave America’s 500,000 corn farmers behind in favor of a handful of refineries.”
Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, issued this statement:
“Congress picked foreign refiners over American farmers and drivers today. What a travesty. E15 delivers cost savings for consumers and generates long-term demand for American agriculture. These have been the facts during the twelve-year-long debate over the simple act of allowing consumers the choice to buy a better value fuel year-round. Failure to act will now lead to farmers missing out on a critical market during the worst farm crisis in 40 years. Consumers will also miss out on access to more affordable fuel choices. Instead of supporting farmers and affordability, Congress appears to have prioritized the demands of a few well-capitalized foreign refiners that plead poverty with lawmakers while boasting financial success with investors.
“This council must deliver a solution for year-round E15. It’s imperative that leaders in Congress focus their energies on getting this over the finish line in an expedited timeline.
“We especially want to thank our congressional champions who have fought to make this issue a top priority for Congress. While the creation of a council to work on E15 legislation falls short of the immediate action we need, Growth Energy intends to fully participate in this process and ensure our champions in Congress have the support they need to deliver a victory for rural America.
“If lawmakers want to show they can still deliver practical solutions—solutions that lower costs, strengthen domestic energy production, and meet Americans where they are—passing year-round E15 is the place to start.”
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper offered the following comments in response to these developments:
“We are extremely disappointed that Congress appears to have failed again in adopting a simple technical fix that would have made lower-cost, American-made E15 available to consumers nationwide all year long. Allowing year-round E15 would have provided a lifeline to farmers who are facing the worst economic crisis in almost 50 years, while also helping American families struggling with higher energy bills.
“We already have a compromise deal that is broadly supported by ethanol producers, farmers, large oil refiners, several small oil refiners, fuel retailers, and many other stakeholders, but lawmakers appear to be letting it slip away. The current appropriations process was undoubtedly Congress’ best opportunity to open a critical new market for hard-hit farmers and deliver lower gas prices to American families. It is unfathomable to us that just a handful of mid-sized oil refiners, including foreign-owned companies, were apparently able to blow the whole thing up.
“Kicking the can down the road and creating a new council to study future legislative options just exacerbates the uncertainty and apprehension already being felt across rural America. Starting from scratch makes absolutely no sense. Farmers need real solutions right now, not more foot-dragging and more debate. The agriculture sector is facing a historic economic crisis, and the only way out is to immediately open new markets for American crops.
“While this is not the outcome we were pushing for, we are grateful to the many House members and Senators who fought to advance the year-round E15 bill this week. We will continue to join them in pushing harder than ever to secure this badly needed legislation for rural America as soon as possible.”
Sources: National Corn Growers Association, Growth Energy, Renewable Fuels Association.