One of the few members of Congress still left in town on Thursday afternoon last week was Iowa’s senior Senator Chuck Grassley, who was more than happy to meet with members of the American Coalition for Ethanol and talk about his favorite topic.

“It’s good for agriculture, it’s good for the environment, it’s good for good paying jobs in rural America, it’s good for our national defense…and everything about it is good, good, good,” Grassley said, repeating the phrase he has used for more than four decades now when it comes to the corn-based fuel his state produces more than any other.

Sen. Grassley is a co-sponsor of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2023 and he is encouraged by the opportunities for ethanol in sustainable aviation fuel, but he is disappointed that the administration has delayed the release of updates for the GREET model to allow producers to take advantage of tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. “It’s a sad commentary because the delay as far as the formula is concerned is based on ignorance when you have this indirect land (use) factor in the formula,” said Grassley.

Sen. Grassley interview 3:07

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