‘Disgusted, Disappointed, and Disillusioned’: Corn and Biofuel Groups React to Year-Round E15 Setback

“Corn growers are disgusted, disappointed and disillusioned that after spending years of calling for passage of E15, Congress has again punted, and it has done so in a spectacularly weak and offensive way. Bizarrely, members of Congress are now planning to establish a rural energy council to explore this legislation as if we are in the beginning stages of discussing E15. We already have a bill. We already have an agreement with the petroleum industry after months of negotiation. But instead of acting, Congress is now suggesting a process-ridden task force that kicks the can down the road once again. Congress is choosing to leave America’s 500,000 corn farmers behind in favor of a handful of refineries.”

“We are extremely disappointed that Congress appears to have failed again in adopting a simple technical fix that would have made lower-cost, American-made E15 available to consumers nationwide all year long. Allowing year-round E15 would have provided a lifeline to farmers who are facing the worst economic crisis in almost 50 years, while also helping American families struggling with higher energy bills.

We already have a compromise deal that is broadly supported by ethanol producers, farmers, large oil refiners, several small oil refiners, fuel retailers, and many other stakeholders, but lawmakers appear to be letting it slip away. The current appropriations process was undoubtedly Congress’ best opportunity to open a critical new market for hard-hit farmers and deliver lower gas prices to American families. It is unfathomable to us that just a handful of mid-sized oil refiners, including foreign-owned companies, were apparently able to blow the whole thing up.

Kicking the can down the road and creating a new council to study future legislative options just exacerbates the uncertainty and apprehension already being felt across rural America. Starting from scratch makes absolutely no sense. Farmers need real solutions right now, not more foot-dragging and more debate. The agriculture sector is facing a historic economic crisis, and the only way out is to immediately open new markets for American crops.

While this is not the outcome we were pushing for, we are grateful to the many House members and Senators who fought to advance the year-round E15 bill this week. We will continue to join them in pushing harder than ever to secure this badly needed legislation for rural America as soon as possible.”