Rep. Pence: Supporting ethanol industry will remain top priority 

By U.S. Rep. Greg Pence 
Republican Party, District 6 

Before I was granted the privilege of representing Hoosiers in Congress, I built my career in the energy distribution business. I’ve been blessed to be able to use that knowledge and experience throughout my time in Washington. 

That’s how I know the importance of supporting the ethanol industry. 

Ethanol is a reliable, renewable source of clean energy. Indiana is ranked sixth in the nation for ethanol production, accounting for nearly eight percent of the country’s total. Hoosier producers benefit greatly from the production of ethanol. In fact, almost half of our Indiana-grown corn is converted to ethanol in the 15 biorefineries across the state. One of these, POET Bioprocessing Shelbyville, is in the Sixth Congressional District. Ethanol supports more than 41,000 Hoosier jobs, benefiting both our economy and the environment, and it provides a direct boost to the value of corn. 

I know full well that the ethanol industry has promised to produce long-term solutions to challenges, and I am proud to have been an active supporter of ethanol throughout my time in Congress. In 2022, I authored a letter to Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm asking her to provide opportunity to compete for potential Funding Opportunity Announcements for advancements in internal combustion engines that allow for greater amounts of ethanol blended into traditional fuels. 

Ethanol is also the most obvious and effective way to utilize alternative fuels. As the Biden administration continues to push a misguided green agenda that centers around electrification, we are all seeing the ramifications is higher prices and strained power grids.  Eliminating liquid fuels in favor of electric is short-sighted and unrealistic, and I’ve urged the biofuel and petroleum industries to work together to push back. I’ll continue fighting against full electrification. 

Fortunately, the industry has always proven resilient, even as COVID-19 discouraged travel and decreased demand for fuel. As the CARES Act was implemented, I joined my colleagues in a letter to then-Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, urging him to use funds for direct relief to the biofuels sector. Stabilizing the industry was a priority, and I’m pleased to see the growth since then. 

As I close out my time in Washington, I will continue promoting the interests of the ethanol industry. Bringing value to our state, farmers, economy, and environment, we can’t afford to waste it.