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Frustration builds as year-round E15 faces continued roadblocks, Ernst says

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst is voicing frustration over prolonged delays in federal approval of year-round E15, calling the policy a win-win for both farmers and consumers.

“Especially as we see prices of fuel going up, we know that E15 can be a very valuable part of that solution driving the consumer costs down at the pump.”

The Iowa Republican tells Brownfield E15 could be added to the Senate’s version of the farm bill.

“But what I want folks to recognize is if we do that, it will have to be cleared by other committees, namely, the Environment and Public Works Committee,” Ernst said. “That’s where biofuels (policy) falls.”

Ernst says small and mid-sized oil refiners continue to cause the biggest hold up.

“There are some really great companies that work well with our ethanol producers, but many of them are not really small refineries” she said. “They are part of large entities, and they continually push back on our efforts to get E15 year-round.”

President Trump has said he’ll sign year-round E15 legislation if Congress can get it to his desk.

Brownfield’s video interview with U.S. Senator Joni Ernst can be viewed below: