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E15 legislation falls apart despite fall agreement

There’s still no legislation that authorizes nationwide, year-round E15.

“It’s truly a shame. It’s truly a letdown.”

National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower says it was left out of the appropriations package after agreement was reached with the oil industry in the fall at the urging of the Trump administration. “It’s so frustrating and so disappointing for all of us in rural America at a time when we’re truly getting desperate with low commodity prices, high input prices and multiple years of this. We’re starting to see a rise in bankruptcies and foreclosures.”

Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon, a member of the House Ag Committee, tells Brownfield he worked closely with Speaker Mike Johnson. “In the end, we could have forced it in the House bill, but we think the Senate would not have passed it and then we would have gone into a government shutdown or a continuing resolution, which would have been worse.” 

Bacon says he knows farmers are disappointed. But, “They have to realize that there is real opposition out there. There’s people fighting with all they have to defeat E15. I think they’re misguided and they’re wrong, but it’s a fact.”

Lawmakers are looking for a different path forward and have created a Rural Energy Council. Kansas Corn CEO Josh Roe says that’s unnecessary. “But it’s the hand that’s been dealt. That is something we will hold people accountable to. I’ve seen some statements out of House leadership (recently) where this is going to be a fast and straightforward process.”

Bower says NCGA will continue to engage with members of the council to find a path forward for the solution. He says it will also be critical to keep the support of the American Petroleum Institute.  In a statement to Brownfield, API says prolonging the issue hurts consumers and fuel markets and urges Congress to pass the legislation without delay.

Jed Bower:

Josh Roe: