Governors' Biofuels Coalition

With the holiday season in full swing, we know Santa’s working on his list; who’s been naughty and who’s been nice? This is Washington, D.C., so you know there’s been a leak. We’ve seen a copy and share it with you here.

Naughty:
• The American Petroleum Institute and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers for their anti-Renewable Fuel Standard campaigns, doling out mistruths like Christmas presents.

• Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who placed a hold on a highly qualified nominee for USDA, Bill Northey, simply because ethanol champions had reversed proposals from EPA to weaken the RFS.

• Protectionists in Brazil and China who placed artificial trade barriers on global access to U.S. ethanol. These short-sighted policies ultimately harm consumers in those countries by limiting access to the cleanest, lowest-cost, highest-octane fuel on the planet.

• The API (again!) for its push polls that mislead consumers on the benefits of ethanol. We can disagree on the substance, but purposely stating falsehoods as truths to steer results in one’s favor is frankly a waste of everyone’s time.

• The American Motorcyclist Association for claiming the RFS will force every cycle to use E15 or that there’s an impending E15 mandate. AMA needs to spend a little more time on education and a little less time berating an industry that provides a high-octane super fuel to bikers around the country.

• The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board and others that have adopted the oil companies’ anti-RFS narrative. When will the papers learn not to alienate many of their readers by going after a cleaner, domestically produced fuel?

Nice:
• President Trump for keeping his campaign promise to support ethanol and the RFS. Since his election, Trump has followed through in his support for biofuels. In a letter to attendees at this year’s National Ethanol Conference, the president wrote, “Rest assured that your president and this administration value the importance of renewable fuels to America’s economy and to our energy independence.” Thank you, President Trump, for understanding how vital renewable fuels are to our economy and environment.

• USDA for its continued support for ethanol and an understanding of the impact it has on rural America. USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue is only the third head of the agency to have been a farmer, and he clearly understands the vital connection and role that rural America plays in our economy. To have a friend at USDA who understands the numerous benefits that ethanol provides to consumers around the world is priceless.

• Congressional champions—Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; John Thune, R-S.D.; Al Franken, D-Minn.; Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; and Joe Donnelly, D-Ind.—who tirelessly defend biofuels and work toward greater industry growth. Our advocates in Congress are fierce and work to ensure consumers continue to benefit from the RFS.

• Gubernatorial champions—Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Republican; South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard, Republican; Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, Republican; and Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, Republican—for urging Trump to keep his promises to rural America to support the RFS.

• Al-Corn Clean Fuel, Flint Hills Resources, The Andersons, Rex American Resources Corp., Novozymes and many others have already or are currently undergoing expansions at their facilities. Expansions mean more consumers will have access to ethanol.

• The Crappie Masters Tournament Trail, which highlighted the benefits and power that gives ethanol-fueled boats that extra boost.

Have a happy, safe and renewable holiday season!