Iowa, Midwest senators sign letter of support for ethanol

Five Midwest senators defended ethanol production and year-round E15 sales Wednesday in a letter to the Wall Street Journal.

U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst from Iowa, Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts from Nebraska and Roger Marshall from Kansas submitted the letter to the newspaper in response to a column that criticized the ethanol industry. Specifically, the columnist accused ethanol lobbyists of delaying the “Farm Bill” in the U.S. House of Representatives, attempting to pass measures that “would benefit the ethanol industry at the expense of consumers and small refiners.”

The five senators defended ethanol, specifically E15 fuel that contains 15% ethanol, as an affordable solution to rising gas prices across the U.S, describing it as a “net positive” for Americans.

“Expanding E15 availability lowers gas prices by 20 to 40 cents per gallon on average. That could mean around $400 per year in savings for a U.S. household—precious dollars that could be spent on other needs,” the letter said.

The senators said they believe nationwide distribution and sales of E15 has bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress, and “a handful of oil refineries” are trying to stop E15 legislation from being passed.

“E15 has been in the marketplace by presidential waiver for eight years. In that time, not one refinery has closed because of E15 availability,” the letter said.

The letter concluded with the five senators saying that the passage of E15 legislation is at the “forefront” of their legislative agenda: “We know E15 will lower prices at the pump, and we’re committed to providing affordable options for families. Securing year-round, nationwide E15 is at the forefront of our agenda.”

A bill that makes the sale of E15 year-round passed the House in May, but faces an uncertain path in the Senate, where the bill would need 60 votes to pass.