by Mark Drajem & Ari Natter and James Rowley (Bloomberg) ... Similar to Hillary Clinton’s dilemma on pipelines, a Trump administration could be caught between competing interests on approval for renewable projects or transmission lines on public lands. Trump has called
2016 US House and Senate Campaigns
Back TO HOMEMcGinty's Agency Subsidized the Ethanol Company which then Hired Her
by Timothy P. Carney (Washington Examiner) Katie McGinty, the Democrats' nominee for Senate in Pennsylvania, cashed out of state government and into the subsidized renewable-energy companies whose agenda she had pushed when in office. That subsidized energy company then turned
November 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Grassley Ad Highlights Cellulosic Ethanol Efforts
by Jenny Hopkinson (Politico's Morning Ag) A new television advertisement from Sen. Chuck Grassley’s campaign focuses on his success in advancing legislation that promotes the use of cellulosic ethanol-based energy, encouraging “a new fuel made from cobs, not kernels.” The Iowa
November 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Judge and Grassley Face off in Iowa U.S. Senate Debate
by Shelby Shepherd (KWQC) An hour before Trump and Clinton battled it out in Las Vegas, Iowa’s U.S. senate candidates battled it out in the western part the state they are fighting for. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley has held his
October 21, 2016 Read Full Article
With Hometown's Cornfields in Mind, Shimkus Supports Renewable Fuel Standard Reform
by Ruth de Jauregui (Metro East Sun) Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) recently expressed his readiness to lead the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on which he is the senior member, in pushing for Renewable Fuel Standard reform. Shimkus said Illinois' 15th District
October 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Letters: A Fortune in Biofuels Being Left on the Table
by LeRoy Deichman (Herald-Whig) Existing intellectual property and current production practices hold the promise to enable Missouri's 5th District to produce enough biofuels to displace all of the gasoline currently purchased by our residents and all of the diesel fuel used
October 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Becomes Issue in Senate Race
by Gary Truitt (Hoosier Ag Today) On Wednesday Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) toured the Noble Americas South Bend Ethanol Plant, highlighting Evan Bayh’s strong support for Indiana’s corn and ethanol industries and the tens of thousands
October 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Sen. Amy Klobuchar Visits Lamberton Area Solar Community Garden Near Ethanol Site
by Erik Posz (Redwood Falls Gazette) Thoroughly impressed. That was the feeling United States Senator Amy Klobuchar left with after a visit Friday morning to the Redwood Electric Cooperative (REC) Community Solar Array located adjacent to Highwater Ethanol near Lamberton. “It’s
September 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Pat Toomey, Katie McGinty Joust over Corporations
by Marc Levy (Associated Press/The Morning Call) Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and his Democratic challenger Katie McGinty tangled Monday over the use of corn ethanol in motor fuel and post-recession bank regulations as they try to show that the
September 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Emmer Voices Support for Minnesota’s Ethanol Industry
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., recently met up with the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association to learn more about Minnesota's ethanol industry and show his support for clean homegrown renewable biofuels. "Minnesota and America's heartland are prime locations for
September 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Letter: Sen. Grassley Works Hard for Clean Energy
by James Dozier (The Gazette/Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions) Sen. Chuck Grassley has displayed a consistent record of leadership when it comes to bringing jobs and clean energy to Iowa and helping to bolster the farm economy. Two recent efforts led
September 02, 2016 Read Full Article
August Is the Time to Reach Out and Meet Your Member of Congress
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) Members of Congress just returned to their home states and districts for the August recess to meet with constituents and campaign for the upcoming elections. You can be sure the oil producers will
August 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Report: Clinton Talking about RFS Alternative
by Ed Tibbetts (Quad City Times) A new report saying that Hillary Clinton's campaign has talked with California officials about how the Renewable Fuel Standard might be revamped is drawing criticism from a top Republican in Iowa. The Clinton campaign said
August 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Sanders’s Next Challenge: Where Will He Take His Revolution?
by David Weigel and John Wagner (The Washington Post) ... Sanders’s role is under discussion, but he has said a more immediate priority is trying to find common ground on the issues he championed during the primaries. “It’s not just Bernie Sanders
June 27, 2016 Read Full Article
RFS Supporters Say Biofuel Is ‘Nuanced’ Issue
by Gene Lucht (Iowa Farmer Today) ... What happens in 2022 is that Congress stops setting annual levels of renewable fuel usage, but the actual law does not expire. It would take an act of Congress to make it go away,
June 16, 2016 Read Full Article
Republican Biofuel Advocate Detours to Run for Congress
by Tiffany Stecker (E&E Publishing) ... (Denise) Gitsham, 39, is running for Congress against a strong backer of advanced biofuels, Rep. Scott Peters (D), in California's 52nd District. She narrowly made second place in California's primary Tuesday night to become the Republican
June 10, 2016 Read Full Article
Hogg Touts Biofuels
by Joe Sutter (The Messenger) Education spending, environmental concerns are a focus for senate candidate -- State Sen. Rob Hogg touted his support for renewables and biofuels while at the Iowa Central Community College fuel testing laboratory Tuesday. The lab is
May 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Republicans Need to Embrace Renewables — on Their Terms
by Mark R. Maddox (American Action Forum/Livingston Group/The Hill) ... There is heartburn over subsidies, including concerns about federal dollars being used to support a largely private-sector enterprise that the majority of states have mandated. As well, our national debt is $19
May 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Lawmakers Seek Ethanol Cap: House Bill Would Codify Ethanol Blend Wall
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) The ethanol industry has hit the blend wall where total production exceeds the available E10 market, and a small group of federal lawmakers wants to keep it that way. ... Legislation introduced in the U.S.
May 11, 2016 Read Full Article
There’s One Group Not Ready to Ditch the Donald: Ethanol Producers
by Mark Drajem (Bloomberg) Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, says he’s confident that the next president — whether Donald Trump, or Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton — would be fine for the biofuel industry. ... Both Trump and Clinton advocated
May 10, 2016 Read Full Article
THE REGULARS: Clean Energy Incentives Produce Spectrum of Benefits for Iowa
by Katie Colling (Sioux City Journal) ... So my question is, why should non-farming Iowans care about RFS or any of the tax incentives for production of alternative energy forms? ... Iowa now has 41 corn ethanol plants and two cellulosic plants and
May 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Inaction in Congress Helping Ethanol Right Now
by Chris Clayton (DTN The Progressive Farmer) ... Ethanol also remains stuck in a battle with EPA over vapor pressure with 15% ethanol over the summer months. 10% ethanol, E10, has such a waiver so it can be sold during the
May 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Tenacity Required to Secure Advanced Biofuels Future
by Michael McAdams (Advanced Biofuels Association/Biomass Magazine) Once again, we enter spring awaiting the U.S. EPA’s proposal for the renewable volumes obligations (RVO) for the next year. After six years in this cycle, we know that EPA must propose a
May 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Election Impacts on the US Biofuels Markets
(Stratas Advisors) The 2016 elections have raised clouds of questions for many involved in the US biofuels markets. The conflicting and inflated rhetoric surrounding biofuels and climate policy gives the impression that drastic change is on the horizon with multiple
April 04, 2016 Read Full Article
In U.S., 73% Now Prioritize Alternative Energy Over Oil, Gas
by Zac Auter (Gallup) Seventy-three percent of Americans say they prefer emphasizing alternative energy, rather than gas and oil production, as the solution to the nation's energy problems. This marks the highest percentage of Americans prioritizing alternative energy since Gallup
March 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Fuels a Primary Challenge in Iowa to Cruz-backer Steve King
by Timothy P. Carney (Washington Examiner) Rick Bertrand, a state senator from Sioux City, Iowa, has announced a primary challenge against GOP Rep. Steve King. What did King do to earn the challenge? In the Iowa caucuses, King supported Ted
March 22, 2016 Read Full Article
King Supports Cruz And RFS
(1380KCIM.com) Congressman Steve King has endorsed Texas Senator Ted Cruz for the GOP Presidential nomination, causing many to ask Iowa’s fourth-district representative about his commitment to the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). ... Cruz’ plan is to phase down the RFS over
March 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Republican Jay Faison Launches Super PAC to Boost Clean-Energy Candidates
by Rebecca Ballhaus (The Wall Street Journal) Republican millionaire Jay Faison is pushing his party to embrace clean energy, saying conservatives don’t need to be on the defensive on climate issues. The North Carolina businessman this week launched a super PAC
March 03, 2016 Read Full Article
American Energy Alliance Launches Six-Figure Ad Buy against Toomey-Feinstein
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the American Energy Alliance launched a six-figure advocacy initiative urging Congress to reject efforts that fall short of fully repealing the Renewable Fuel Standard. Amid speculation that the Toomey-Feinstein partial repeal language could be
January 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Cruz Victory in Iowa Threatens Ethanol's Power
by Alex Guillen and Jenny Hopkinson (Politico) ... Already, the Republican Texas senator has defied the caucus' usual political gravity by flying high in the polls in Iowa, despite his years of efforts to kill a federal ethanol mandate that supports
January 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Iowa Congressional Delegation Unanimously Calls for Strong Up-Tick in 2017 Renewable Fuel Volumes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, in a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, the entire Iowa Congressional delegation urged the agency to set the next round of Renewable Fuel Standard volume levels in line with the statute –
January 25, 2016 Read Full Article
How Much Do Iowans Care about Ethanol?
by James Q. Lynch (The Gazette) Not as much as they used to, poll suggests, but results open to debate -- A free-market think tank has made a seven-figure ad buy to alert caucus goers of the environmental impact of corn
January 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Iowa Governor Calls for Anti-Cruz Vote on Ethanol Issue
by David Pitt (Associated Press) Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz received an anti-endorsement from the governor of Iowa, Tuesday, host of the country's lead-off presidential caucus, on account of his failure to support renewable fuels like ethanol. Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican
January 20, 2016 Read Full Article
King Vows to Protect Renewable Fuels Standards
(KIOW) There has been a lot of discussion among political candidates regarding the production of ethanol fuels. Some candidates are against the idea while still others have proposed a plan to phase renewable fuel standards out. U. S. Representative Steve
January 19, 2016 Read Full Article
SDFU Delegates Vote to Take Pro-E30 Challenge
by Mikkel Pates (Agweek) The South Dakota Farmers Union celebrated its 100th annual meeting by taking another step forward in history by unanimously passing a resolution that dedicates its members to use a 30 percent ethanol blend in all of
December 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Eric Branstad: Cruz Oil Stains
by Douglas Burns (Des Moines CityView) Governor’s son rips leading GOP presidential candidate over renewable energy -- Eric Branstad, leader of a fierce grassroots organization backing renewable-energy sources like ethanol, said last Thursday that Ted Cruz is far and away
December 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuel Proponents Speaking up as EPA Decision Draws Near
(Ohio's Country Journal) National Corn Growers Association President Chip Bowling has urged President Obama to reverse the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed cuts in the Renewable Fuel Standard’s volume obligation and adhere to the statute of the law itself. ... “Contrary to
November 18, 2015 Read Full Article
Strong RFS Support Offers Low-Risk Opportunity for Democrats to Connect with Voters They Need to Retake Majority
by Ryan Fitzpatrick (Third Way) Although relatively obscure by Washington standards, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) carries a unique level of importance and visibility in many rural states. The fact that the RFS invariably becomes a priority campaign issue for
November 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Will the Renewable Fuel Standard Impact the 2016 Elections?
by Jonathan H Harsch (Agri-Pulse) The escalating battle over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) added another front Thursday. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson warned President Obama that lowering the RFS volume requirements could result in Democrats losing otherwise winnable congressional
November 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Many Conservative Republicans Believe Climate Change Is a Real Threat
by Coral Davenport (The New York Times) A majority of Republicans — including 54 percent of self-described conservative Republicans — believe the world’s climate is changing and that mankind plays some role in the change, according to a new survey conducted by
September 29, 2015 Read Full Article
Reps. Keith Ripp and Andy Jorgensen: Weakening Renewable Fuel Standard Would Hurt Rural Wisconsin
by Reps. Keith Ripp and Andy Jorgensen (Wisconsin State Journal) ... We are proud to support the Renewable Fuel Standard despite the fact that the two of us hail from different political parties. And we are not the only example of the bipartisan
August 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Local Senate, House Campaigns' Statements on Renewable Fuel Standard and Related Advanced Biofuels Issues
To make it easier to find opinions about the Renewable Fuel Standard articulated by candidates for the US House of Represenatives and Senate, Advanced Biofuels USA will be listing articles and links on this page, by state, as they come