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Minnesota Biofuels leader says ASA tried to “kill the bill” on year-round E15

The executive director of the Minnesota Biofuels Association says he was caught off guard by the American Soybean Association speaking up in opposition of nationwide year-round E15 this (last) week.

Brian Werner tells Brownfield he’ll need to look further into a study by the University of Missouri’s Food and Ag Policy Research Institute that ASA used to claim passing E15 would unintentionally harm soy-based biodiesel and renewable diesel markets.

“To put out a study like that at the eleventh hour the morning before the House vote, that sort of timeline is designed to kill the bill.”

He suggests ASA had plenty of time to express concerns about E15.

“But now there is certainly going to be ongoing negotiations in the Senate, so there will be time now I think to fully litigate some of those issues. But the timeline here is really disappointing.”

Werner says expanded access to E15 would significantly increase demand for corn growers, many of whom also grow soybeans.