Corn growers push for higher ethanol blends nationwide

By Matt Ziegler, director of public policy, National Corn Growers Association

Inflation, tariffs and the economy are the talk of the town in Washington these days. And state and national corn grower advocates have been making a strong case that these concerns are precisely why American consumers need consistent, year-round access to higher blends of ethanol.

The reason is simple: Ethanol saves drivers money at the pump, is good for the environment and is an economic engine for farmers and rural America. It also is home grown and provides the United States with energy security. Ethanol has something for everyone.

Unfortunately, though, the nation still operates on a dated policy that interrupts access to fuel with 15 percent ethanol blends – often called E15 or Unleaded 88 – during the summer months.

NCGA has worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide waivers that allow for continued access to this fuel during the last several summers, but this approach does not provide farmers or consumers with the long-term certainty they need. And as the nation struggles with inflation and higher gas prices, we need a long-term and permanent fix.

That’s why we have worked with key congressional allies who recently re-introduced the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would allow for year-round access to these fuels. State and national corn grower leaders and allies – including those in your state – have been relentless in working to get this legislation across the finish line.

We came close to a win in December when legislation, designed to keep the government funded through March
included language eliminating the outdated E15 policy. At the eleventh hour, the language was removed much to our disappointment.

We re-upped our efforts this year. We recently sent the leadership in the House and Senate a letter with close to 9,000 signatures from farmers and our allies calling for action.

NCGA also teamed up with congressional sponsors of the bill as they hosted a press conference on Capitol Hill this
month to rally support for our efforts.

As some in Washington talk about what they’re against; we are in a unique position to talk about what we are for. And luckily, we have some heavy hitters on our side, including President Donald J. Trump who has expressed his support for eliminating barriers to ethanol.

But while we have a lot going for us, we also have several challenges. If inflation, tariffs and economic concerns are helping us make our case, they also are causing a lot of distractions, impeding our ability to attract the attention of
policymakers and the media.

We are also having to navigate a divided Congress. This includes divisions in each party and between
Democrats and Republicans. We had hoped, for example, to include language that would address this issue in a new bill to fund the government, but because Republican control of the House is so tight, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) kept the legislation strictly focused on government funding, so he wouldn’t lose votes.

But I still think there are many opportunities over the days ahead to get this legislation passed and signed by the president. We will need you to help us achieve this goal. If you’re not already a member, consider joining your state corn grower group and sign up for the National Corn Growers Association’s advocacy alerts, so you can make your voice heard on this and other issues.

While America runs on ethanol, public policy wins are fueled by people like you and the thousands of corn growers across the country. So, join our efforts.

Here’s to working toward and hoping for an ethanol
win in the near future.

Farmers call for immediate action

A letter signed by nearly 9,000 corn growers and advocates from 47 states was sent to House and Senate leadership on March 6 calling for action to remove an obsolete federal policy that prevents the sale of fuel
with 15 percent ethanol blends, often referred to as E15, during the summer months.

“A legislative solution for consumers to access year-round E15 comes at no cost yet would provide critical
support to our nation’s energy sector, overdue relief to American families, and provide necessary economic
security to rural communities,” the letter said.

The letter was sent by NCGA to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

The sheer number of signatures in the letter is testament to the strong sentiment about increased ethanol demand among farmers, especially as commodity prices drop and input costs increase.

“Standardizing year-round E15 will result in an increase in corn demand of about 2.3 billion bushels per year,” the letter stated. “Considering that about one-third of corn produced in the U.S. is used for ethanol production,
this demand creation will result in an impressive improvement in profitability for operations across the nation – and rural communities will reap the benefits.”

Find out more here.