The annual American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Fly-in is coming up March 27-28 and CEO Brian Jennings says once again the number one topic is year-round, nationwide E15.

“We really need a permanent, national solution from Congress because that’s what the courts have said, before the summer driving season starts,” said Jennings during an interview at Commodity Classic this week. “But what we like about what the President has signaled and what was reiterated by Secretary Rollins in her remarks (at Classic) is that, should we fail to get legislation over the finish line before the summer driving season, we’ve got an insurance policy in our back pocket and that is the strong likelihood that the Trump administration will once again grant these emergency waivers that were done under under Biden.”

ACE is headquartered in South Dakota, which is one of the strongest and oldest ethanol producing states, so Jennings says he was very disappointed that the state’s governor has asked for a delay in implementing year-round E15 under the Midwest governor’s waiver request which was finally approved by EPA to go into effect this year. “It’s my understanding this only applies to 9 or 10 counties on the western edge of the state and their fuel is supplied by a Wyoming refinery,” said Jennings. “The problem with what Governor Rhoden did is sending a signal to South Dakota farmers, and South Dakota ethanol producers, and South Dakota consumers that want to buy a higher octane, cheaper product that the interests of a Wyoming refinery are more important.”

Besides E15, there are many other issues to be discussed during Capitol Hill visits at the Fly-in, including the RFS, tariffs and exports, and the future of ethanol in sustainable aviation fuel. Click here to register.