US Lawmakers Want to Boost Ethanol’s Green Appeal as EVs Threaten Fuel Use

May 16, 2023

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by Kim Chipman and Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Bill brings together lawmakers from corn and oil states; Growth of EVs is threatening demand for liquid fuels

US representatives from Iowa, Illinois, Texas and Oklahoma are introducing a bill that would allow corn-based ethanol to qualify as an “advanced biofuel” — a bid to boost the gasoline additive’s green credentials.

The bipartisan legislation is bringing together lawmakers from Midwestern states that grow corn along with regions tied to oil production. It’s a rare move that shows how factions that were once at odds are now working together as the proliferation of electric vehicles is threatening demand for both biofuels and traditional gasoline. READ MORE

HOUSE BILL CONSIDERS MAKING CORN STARCH ETHANOL AN ADVANCED BIOFUEL (Brownfield Ag News; includes AUDIO)

Miller-Meeks, Bice, Hunt, Sorensen, Budzinski Introduce Bill to Classify Corn-Based Ethanol as an Advanced Biofuel (Office of Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01))

NCGA Supports New Legislation that Would Level the Playing Field for Ethanol (Albert Lea Radio)

Bill aims to allow corn ethanol to qualify as advanced biofuel (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

Lawmakers introduce legislation to classify corn as an advanced biofuel (KIWA Radio)

D.C. Dispatch: Iowa lawmakers talk healthcare, biofuels and police (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Iowa is the future of renewable energy (Daily Gate City)

The ethanol mandate, at best, trades greenhouse gas reductions for massive damage to waterways (Washington Examiner)

Excerpt from Brownfield Ag News: A bill introduced in the US House this week aims to level the playing field for corn starch ethanol.

The Fuels Parity Act introduced by Representatives Nikki Budzinski and Eric Sorensen of Illinois, Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma and Wesley Hunt of Texas would allow ethanol from corn starch to be classified as an advanced biofuel.

Dave Loos with the Illinois Corn Growers Association tells Brownfield it would give corn farmers more access to the domestic market.

“I think it’ll be a lower cost competitor to the other advanced biofuels. So therefore, the refineries would tend to use more corn starch ethanol in meeting their requirements under the Renewable Fuels Standard.”

The bill would also modernize the Renewable Fuels Standard by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to use the Argonne GREET Model to determine the greenhouse gas emissions of biofuels.

Loos says they have pushed to implement these improvements for several years, and it is encouraging to see bipartisan support from both Corn Belt and Oil Patch states. READ MORE; includes AUDIO

Excerpt from Office of Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01): U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Wesley Hunt (TX-13), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), and Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) today introduced the Fuels Parity Act, legislation that would allow ethanol from corn starch to qualify as an advanced biofuel and require EPA to use the Argonne GREET model to determine the greenhouse gas emission profile of biofuels under the RFS. Text of the bill may be found here.

“As we look toward a cleaner energy future, it’s imperative we take an ‘any-of-the-above’ approach to energy production. Removing legal barriers that limit the use of corn-based ethanol will bolster American energy production and support our agriculture industry—all while lowering carbon emissions,” said Miller-Meeks. “I’m proud to lead this bipartisan legislation and honored to be joined by my colleagues from Texas, Oklahoma, and Illinois.”

“This legislation levels the playing field and allows ethanol derived from corn starch to qualify as an advanced biofuel. This bill will help decrease carbon emissions and increase American energy production, paving the way towards a more attainable and efficient energy future. As liquid fuel demand is at an all-time high, I’ll continue working to create and all-of-the-above approach that expands supply for refiners and consumers while maintaining the cost-effective Internal Combustion Engine,” said Bice.

“Liquid fuels are the backbone of our society, which is why I’m ecstatic to support this legislation,” said Hunt. “Congress must promote programs that encourage the internal combustion engine, which will remain commonplace in our society for generations to come.”

“Making sure our corn growers from McLean County to Whiteside County have the support they need is important to keeping communities across Central and Northwestern Illinois sustainable and secure. The bipartisan Fuels Parity Act is exactly what our farmers have been asking for so they can support their families and strengthen corn production for generations to come,” said Sorensen.

“Technological innovation is making corn ethanol even cleaner, and the Renewable Fuel Standard should be updated to recognize these advances,” said Budzinski. “I’m proud to help introduce bipartisan legislation ensuring that all of our low emission biofuels receive the same treatment from the Environmental Protection Agency – and that family farmers, consumers and our environment reap the full benefits of increased blending.”

“With the support of Representative Miller-Meeks, we know we have someone that understands the value of ethanol and its role as a more sustainable fuel option to fight climate change on our side. We continue to fight for ethanol because it’s a low-carbon, homegrown fuel option that supports 62% of corn grind in our state,” said Denny Friest, Iowa Corn Growers Association President.

“As a stalwart champion of biofuels, we thank Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks for her leadership in introducing the Fuels Parity Act,” said Joshua Shields, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for POET. “By eliminating the corn starch penalty and adopting the Department of Energy’s Argonne GREET model, which is the gold standard of carbon lifecycle analysis, this legislation paves the way for a more accurate modeling that better reflects the advancements ethanol has and continues to make as a low-carbon liquid fuel solution.”

“We applaud Rep. Miller-Meeks for introducing legislation that recognizes the declining carbon intensity of today’s low-carbon ethanol and helps level the playing field,” said Tom Haag, President of the National Corn Growers Association. “Farmers are proud to contribute to lowering ethanol’s carbon footprint through our production practices, and this bill would ensure EPA uses the most recent science and data to accurately measure the greenhouse gas reduction benefits of biofuels.”

“This bipartisan bill would clear two of the biggest regulatory hurdles that keep the U.S. from unleashing the full carbon-reducing potential of corn ethanol. By both allowing corn starch ethanol to qualify for an advanced (D5) RIN and ensuring EPA uses the gold-standard GREET lifecycle analysis model, the Fuels Parity Act would put biofuels on the same regulatory footing as other fuels, giving them a better chance to compete in the market and more opportunities to decarbonize the transportation sector. We’re grateful to Representatives Miller-Meeks, Hunt, Bice, Budzinski, and Sorenson for introducing this legislation,” said Emily Skor, Growth Energy CEO. READ MORE

Background:

Corn is currently prohibited from qualifying as an advanced biofuel, even if it can meet the required scientific thresholds, by a provision in the 2007 RFS expansion known as the “corn discrimination clause.” No other feedstock is limited – only corn starch used for ethanol. Allowing corn to qualify as an advanced biofuel would incentivize lower emissions from ethanol production and allow corn to access another bucket of the RFS. If ethanol can meet the scientific thresholds, then it should be allowed to qualify as an advanced biofuel and generate an advanced biofuel RIN. READ MORE

Excerpt from Daily Gate City: This week, I (Mariannette Miller-Meeks) introduced the Fuels Parity Act, bipartisan legislation that would allow corn starch to qualify as an advanced biofuel, which will allow Iowa and the rest of the U.S. to benefit from full carbon-reducing power of corn ethanol. As we look toward a cleaner energy future, it’s imperative we take an “any of the above” approach to energy production. Removing legal barriers that limit the use of corn-based ethanol will bolster American energy production and support our agriculture industry—all while lowering carbon emissions. This bill will ensure the EPA accurately recognizes the emission reduction benefits of biofuels to make the system fairer for producers and keep prices lower for consumers.

As the Biden administration continues its war on liquid fuels, the growing partnership between biofuels and traditional fuels is more important than ever. Allowing corn to qualify as an advanced biofuel allows combustion engine vehicles to compete with electric vehicles by incentivizing lower emissions from ethanol production, making the fuel that powers on-road vehicles cleaner. If ethanol can meet the scientific thresholds, then it should be allowed to qualify as an advanced biofuel.

President Biden continues to cry for clean energy, but looks at electric vehicles as the only solution. But even without considering energy required for electric vehicles, our nation is steadily outgrowing our power grid. Our collective goal should be to reduce carbon emissions, not necessarily to be 100 percent electric, yet this administration is ignoring reasonable and proven solutions to doing so, such as increasing the use of ethanol or biofuels.

As Iowa continues to set the pace for ethanol production around the world, the Fuels Parity Act will support Iowa’s farmers and unleash the full power of our homegrown energy sources. READ MORE