(image: MN Biofuels Association)
Renewable fuels advocates are disappointed that a provision allowing year-round sales of E-15 in all 50 states wasn’t included in the one-year extension of the Farm Bill.
Brian Werner of the Minnesota Biofuels Association says drivers in Minnesota know the benefits of ethanol-blended gas…
“The fuel savings for consumers, the better air quality, the additional markets for corn farmers to help prop up that corn price which is really struggling right now. And so we’ve seen the benefits of that here in the Upper Midwest, and we just want to extend those benefits to the rest of the country.”
Still, biofules supporters are finding some room for optimism. There is strong support for ethanol and renewable fuels among leadership in the new Congress, and Werner says they include two lawmakers from Minnesota…
“Congresswoman (Angie) Craig being the new ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee. Senator (Amy) Klobuchar is going to be ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. We’ve got the Senate majority leader, Senator (John) Thune from South Dakota, who has been a longtime biofuel advocate.”
Minnesota and seven other states petitioned the E-P-A and will be allowed to sell 15 percent ethanol in the summer months, but it will not be available in the other 42 states.
(content: courtesy MNN)
