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Whitmer veto’s E-15 tax incentive

Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer has vetoed incentives in the state’s budget to expand E-15 adoption.

Executive director of the Michigan Corn Growers Association Jim Zook tells Brownfield farmers are extremely disappointed.

“This was minor help compared to the EV’s,” he says. “It sure is a slap in the face of the farmer when we need this. We need demand for ethanol to help out on the low prices that the farmers are seeing right now.”

Michigan’s legislature had approved a $3 million one-time grant program providing tax credits of 5 cents per gallon of the fuel sold to encourage its sale in more locations.

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says the move leaves carbon reduction efforts on the table as higher biofuel blends like E15 are a critical decarbonization tool and cost less than standard fuel.

The Michigan Agri-Business Association, Michigan Farm Bureau, and GreenStone Farm Credit Services are also among the agricultural groups expressing disappointment.

Only 23 fuel retailers currently offer E-15 in Michigan.

The governor did approve a pilot fund to help Michiganders transition to electric vehicles, e-bike incentives, and an electric vehicle charging road system pilot project for the next fiscal year. 

At the bill’s signing this week, the governor said, when we don’t negotiate things, I don’t think anyone should be surprised that they’re taken out of the budget.” She left the door open saying, “If the colleagues who put those items in want to have a conversation, I’m open to it. But that was the rationale.”

AUDIO: Jim Zook, Michigan Corn Growers Association