Over 30 Groups Representing Farmers and Renewable Fuels Tell U.S. House to Pass Year-Round E15

E15 Amendment to House Farm Bill Could See Consideration by Full House

Press Contact: Monte Shaw

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WEST DES MOINES, IA - Today over 30 groups representing farmers and renewable fuels producers from across the country sent a letter to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson urging inclusion of a year-round, nationwide E15 fix in the Farm Bill.

"As organizations representing renewable fuel producers and feedstock growers, we are writing to express our strong support for a bipartisan amendment proposed to the House Farm Bill (H.R. 7567) that would permanently allow retail gas stations the option to sell gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol (E15) year-round," the letter stated. "Year-round E15 has been a top priority - if not the top priority - for our organizations for many years… We have undertaken these efforts because year-round E15 access is a critical component to providing enhanced agricultural market support to rural farm economies, creating jobs through rural economic development and biomanufacturing, reducing harmful emissions through the use of cleaner fuels, and helping blunt the impact of high energy costs on consumers in a more dangerous geopolitical world."

While floor debate has not been set, the deadline to submit amendments to the House Farm Bill has passed. The E15 amendment is the result of the work of the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council, co-chaired by Iowa Rep. Randy Feenstra. Backers of E15 hope the amendment will be made in order by the House Rules Committee.

"IRFA is proud to be part of this letter that spans farmers from Texas to North Dakota, and from Nebraska to Ohio," said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. "We are confident of bipartisan support on the House floor if E15 is allowed a vote. One way or the other, it is beyond time to unleash E15 to reduce gas prices while boosting farmer income and enhancing U.S. energy security."

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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 .