Focus Now Shifts to U.S. Senate, the Battle for Year-Round E15 will Continue

Monte Shaw
515-252-6249

WEST DES MOINES, IA – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives, by a vote of 218 to 203, passed legislation removing an outdated and unjustified regulatory restriction on E15. The fix would allow E15 to be easily sold year-round throughout the country. A top priority for farmers and retailers, E15 will provide lower cost options for motorists while providing a much-needed market for U.S. farmers.

“Today’s House passage of year-round E15 is a victory 15 years in the making,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “IRFA cannot thank the Iowa delegation enough for standing strong and united to get us to this point. This was a long, hard fight, and the Iowa delegation was in the lead with other Midwestern supporters throughout. Now the fight goes to the Senate. To the naysayers that claim Senate E15 approval is impossible, I’ll simply note that’s the same thing you said about House passage just days ago. Confuse Midwest ‘nice’ with a lack of fortitude at your own peril.”

Rep. Randy Feenstra co-chaired the House E15 Council that crafted the final E15 package. Reps. Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Zach Nunn refused to bow to pressure to abandon E15 or to pair it with anti-farmer provisions.

“If the last decade has taught us anything, it’s that the path toward nationwide E15 is never straight or easy,” added Shaw. “We are so proud of our House delegation for never giving up and finding a path forward. We are counting on our champions in the Senate to follow suit to get this legislation on the President’s desk. Now is the time to unleash E15 to reduce gas prices while boosting farmer income and enhancing U.S. energy security.”

###

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production with 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing over 5 billion gallons annually – including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity – and 8 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 408 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org.