Lawmakers say they are ready to tackle important issues they face, including E-15 and power transmission

EPA Secretary nominee Lee Zeldin has been making his rounds before Senate panels in recent days. He has taken questions over E-15 and if year-round sales could be a reality under his charge.

“As far as establishing certainty, hopefully, this is something that Congress is able to resolve. To the extent that you’re relying on the EPA to establish that certainty, I look forward to doing my part.”

Doug Burgum was also in the hot seat recently. The former North Dakota Governor is Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department, and he says he is focused on rural energy but says it is the last mile that is the problem.

“I think that this is one of the challenges of our time, and it’s one of the challenges that we need to undertake, is whether it’s a transmission line, a pipeline, whatever it happens to be trying to get built, it just takes too long in our country. If we don’t have the one thing to be able to generate that electricity, but if we don’t have the ability to transmit it to the places where it’s needed, that’s going to be a problem.”

Burgum also said the U.S. is currently in a precarious situation with energy. He calls it an energy crisis and says there needs to be a balance between demand for renewable energy and meeting actual demand.

Related Stories
RFD-TV farm legal and taxation expert, Roger McOwen, joins us with his perspective on what farmers can expect from the delayed aid package.
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report to share why Ames is uniquely positioned to support expanded USDA operations.
Iowa land values dropped 3% year-over-year. Sen. Chuck Grassley said this discomforting pattern is a harbinger of crisis for farmers, as seen in the 1980s.
Jed Bower, the incoming president of the National Corn Growers Association, joined us for his sector’s perspective on the ongoing government shutdown.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week said an announcement would be made on Tuesday. However, that self-imposed deadline has now passed.
Dr. Todd Davis, Chief Economist with the Indiana Farm Bureau, shares a snapshot of his state’s harvest conditions and insights from producers.