Illinois farmer and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Kenneth Hartman Jr. sent a message today to farmers asking them to add their voice in support of legislation allowing the sale of year-round E15.
Farmers can add their signature to a letter that urges Congress to quickly take up the issue to eliminate an obsolete policy that prevents the sale of fuel with 15% ethanol blends, often referred to as E15.
“As traction continues to build on this issue, it is critical that corn growers make their voices heard, encouraging Congress to approve legislation to unlock access to E15 year-round,” Hartman said.
The call to action comes a day after the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act was re-introduced in the House and Senate. The legislation would lift the ban on summer sales of E15.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued waivers allowing the sale of E15 during the summer months over the last few years. But growers and many Midwest governors have called for a permanent fix to the problem. The legislation under consideration would offer that solution at no cost to the government and provide certainty to farmers and consumers at the pump.
In his message to farmers, Hartman said that the time is ripe for action and that Trump administration officials have been supportive of the legislation.
“On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order addressing the need for a pathway to year-round E15 access,” Hartman said. “We are excited that this is a priority for the administration, but we need a legislative fix to provide a concrete resolution to year-round E15.”
Growers came close to a win on the issue in December when language eliminating the ban was included in a continuing resolution to fund the government. But disappointment soon followed when the language was struck during negotiations.
Hartman believes many signatures from farmers will further underscore for Congress the desire to fix this issue among farmers and rural America.
