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Smith hopeful E15 legislation gets across finish line soon

Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith says one of his priorities when Congress returns from recess is getting year-round E15 legislation across the finish line.  

“Ultimately, I sense an expanding group of supporters here in the House and Senate. I’m anxious to keep working on this.”

He tells Brownfield Congress is looking for a vehicle to pass the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. “(We) almost got it across the finish line in December. I look forward on working on this in the near term.”  

Smith and Angie Craig of Minnesota have co-sponsored the legislation, and Senators Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois have introduced it in the Senate.

Nebraska farmer Mike Bergen says year-round E15 would increase domestic demand for corn. “We have the ability to increase our grind on ethanol. If we can just get E15 across the finish line, that would be huge for corn growers across the finish line.”

The EPA has already issued a waiver permitting the sale of E15 in 7 Midwestern states including Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin starting on April 28th.