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E15 support grows, petroleum industry rejoins push

The president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association says more political support is being thrown behind nationwide, year-round E15.

Mark Bunselmeyer, who farms in Macon County, says Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has joined the growing list of state leaders calling for Congressional action on the measure.

“Our governor sent a letter to our two senators and our three representatives, that are all part of the ag committee, also requesting this this past month.”  He says, “We’re hopeful that we can see that to then have higher blends of ethanol to help farmers.”

He says increasing domestic ethanol use offers long-term potential for corn demand.

“Year-round E15 is no silver bullet.”  He says, “As I always tell farmers, we need to encourage the use of our product to go up to people at the station and thank them when they are using E15 or E85.”

AUDIO: Mark Bunselmeyer – IL Corn Growers

Geoff Cooper, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, tells Brownfield that an early December about-face by the petroleum industry also brings renewed optimism.

“We joined several other groups in sending a letter to the White House, as well as up to Capitol Hill, and that letter included the American Petroleum Institute again.”  He says, “They had sort of stepped back from that table in recent months, and so I think it’s a positive signal.”

Cooper says efforts continue to include E15 language in any end-of-year legislative packages, or potentially into appropriation bills at the government’s next funding deadline in January.

AUDIO: Geoff Cooper – Renewable Fuels Association