News

Branstad advocates for renewable fuels

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, a strong advocate for renewable fuels, was back at it again this week.

Branstad joined Iowa Senator Joni Ernst on a visit to the Quad County Corn Processors ethanol plant in Galva.

“I wanted to accompany Senator Ernst because we need support at the federal level as well as the state level for ethanol—and especially for cellulosic ethanol,” says Branstad.

The Quad County plant is producing cellulosic ethanol through a proprietary process that uses corn kernel fiber as a feedstock. Branstad tells Brownfield the federal government needs to do more to encourage that kind of innovation in renewable fuels.

“We want the federal government, and especially the EPA, to recognize and support the need for additional ethanol through the Renewable Fuels Standard,” he says, “and, specifically, higher blends of ethanol like E15, which is selling for ten cents less than E10.”

During the meeting in Galva, officials discussed the need to expand EPA’s existing waiver for Reid vapor pressure to fuels blends containing more than 10 percent ethanol, which could increase sales of E15 during the summer months.

Brownfield’s Mark Dorenkamp contributed to this story.