As over 200 corn growers were meeting in the nation’s capitol this week, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) blasted corn ethanol in an attempt to kill legislation that would allow 15% ethanol blends to be sold year round, instead of being restricted in some areas during the summer months. Inhofe began his speech by complaining that “the fossil fuel industry has …
Censky Nominated as Deputy Ag Secretary
Over two months since he took office, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is finally getting some nominations to fill USDA positions. Late Thursday, Perdue announced that President Trump has nominated American Soybean Association CEO Stephen Censky to be Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. “Our work has only just begun in delivering results for the people of American agriculture, and the experience and …
Iowa Biodiesel on Capitol Hill for Tax Incentive Reform
Biodiesel advocates from Iowa were on Capitol Hill this week to talk with members of Congress about the need for a reformed biodiesel tax incentive. Bills have been introduced in Congress to reinstate the biodiesel tax credit, and reform it from a blenders credit to a producers credit and fix a loophole where foreign biodiesel producers can take advantage of …
Trump Commits to Agriculture in Iowa
President Donald Trump stood among various models of John Deere and Case IH farm equipment as he pledged to boost agriculture exports, loosen federal regulations on the agriculture industry, and support ethanol and biofuels yesterday while speaking to a crowd of about 250 at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. “Today we are celebrating the dignity of work and …
New Iowa Governor Prioritizes Biofuels
Like her predecessor, the new governor of Iowa intends to make renewable fuels a priority in her administration. In her inaugural speech on Wednesday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds made innovating Iowa’s energy policy her second priority, just behind reforming the state’s tax code. “For years, our fields have fed the world. Now, they energize it. They produce products that fuel …
Ethanol and Biodiesel Groups Testify on Trade Issues
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) both testified at a U.S. Department of Commerce hearing Thursday to provide input on a recent Executive Order concerning significant trade deficits. The NBB testified about the harm being caused to the U.S. biodiesel industry from increasing volumes of imports from Indonesia, while RFA was focused on China’s recent …
Ethanol Industry Supports Wyden Clear Energy Act
Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) last week announced legislation to “reduce carbon pollution over the next decade through a series of incentives for clean energy and the promotion of new technologies in the private sector.” Wyden’s Clean Energy for America Act includes technology-neutral tax credits for domestic production of clean electricity and clean transportation fuel, as well …
Branstad Touts Iowa Renewable Energy During China Hearing
During his confirmation hearing Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to become U.S. Ambassador to China, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad had the opportunity to talk about his favorite subject – renewable energy. “Thank you for bringing that up because I’m very proud of where we’ve come from,” Branstad said in response to Sen. Tim Kaine (VA-D) asking about Iowa’s …
Biodiesel Interests Pleased with Senate Bill
The National Biodiesel Board and the American Soybean Association applauded the introduction of a Senate bill this week that would convert the blender’s credit for biodiesel to a $1-per-gallon production credit for fuels produced in the United States for three years and provide an additional 10-cent-per-gallon credit for small producers. “Well-crafted and efficient tax incentives can be powerful policy mechanisms …
New Executive Order Includes Renewable Fuels
President Trump welcomed new Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on his first day in office for a White House “Farmers Roundtable” with 14 farmers and ranchers from around the country. During the roundtable event, the president signed an Executive Order establishing an Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity “to promote economic development and revitalization, job growth, infrastructure, innovation, …