Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN) recently visited ethanol producer Greenfield Global Winnebago to see the investments being made into one of the first dry mill ethanol plants built in Minnesota and discuss the various opportunities for future innovation in the state’s ethanol industry, according to the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Bio-Fuels).

During the visit, MN Bio-Fuels and Greenfield Global Winnebago discussed with Finstad the challenges the ethanol industry is currently facing including the lack of a permanent nationwide legislative solution to enable the year-round sale of E15, also known as Unleaded 88.

Finstad is the lead author of legislation to extend the 1-psi Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver to E15 and allow its year-round, nationwide sale through the Year-Round E15 Act.

Other topics discussed included the implementation of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits for low-carbon ethanol including the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z) and concerns from producers because official guidance for the 40B SAF tax credit was not released until 17 months after the credit went into effect. Finstad said he has urged the Treasury to remove uncertainties on how renewable fuel producers could qualify for the credits.