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Nebraska Corn Board, Growth Energy applaud House bill for year-round E15

The executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board says a House bill that would establish permanent year-round sales of E15 is a good step forward for corn growers.

Kelly Brunkhorst tells Brownfield…

“Essentially, we would be looking at a 50% increase in the ethanol blend from an E10 to E15. “We’re talking millions of bushels of additional demand,” he says.

The Environmental Protection Agency recently approved eight Midwest states to offer year-round E15 in 2025. Brunkhorst says this bill would create more market stability.

“We’re looking for this permanency in statute that way EPA does not have to worry about those emergency waivers and we can supersede just the eight states and go nationwide,” he says.

Growth Energy’s vice president of government affairs John Fuher is applauding the measure.

“We just want to have the status quo of the last six summers be the way it is on a permanent basis,” he says.

He tells Brownfield the bill would remove seasonal restrictions from those who sell, market or purchase ethanol blends up to 15 percent. He says he’s unsure if Congress will be able to get the legislation approved in the lame duck session…

“Even if we can’t, we’ll go into next year with some momentum on a broader bill and whoever is going to be in control next year, I think this is something anybody who cares about gas prices would want to have as an accomplishment in their first 100 days,” he says.

Companion legislation has already been introduced in the U.S. Senate. Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska is a sponsor of that bill along with 10 other Republicans and 3 Democrats.

AUDIO: Kelly Brunkhorst, Nebraska Corn Growers Association

AUDIO: John Fuher, Growth Energy