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Another push for year-round E-15

A bill has been reintroduced in the U.S. Congress that would allow year-round E-15.  Kenneth Hartmann, an Illinois farmer and president of the National Corn Growers Association says the goal is to get that bill signed into law.  “We know that the administration, from what we understand, is positive on ethanol,” he says.  “So, we’re hoping that that, that and the new Congress are going to support this and then we can get this bill passed.” 

He tells Brownfield getting year-round E-15 is a priority — but if the U.S. ethanol industry wants to remain competitive — it has to have room to grow. “We’re also looking at higher blends of ethanol,” he says. “We’ve had the Next Generation Fuel Act that we’ve been working on over the years. That’s basically going to higher blends of ethanol, higher octane. That’s where we need to. go That’s where some of the other foreign countries are going.”  

Hartman says there are other countries that are utilizing ethanol blends of 20 and 30 percent.  He says growing demand for ethanol domestically and on the global market— is good for both farmers and consumers. 

AUDIO: Kenneth Hartman, Illinois farmer, National Corn Growers Association president