Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley have received the E15 award from the Iowa Corn Growers Association for their work in the Senate championing year-round sales of E15.
Ernst and Grassley have been steadfast advocates for ethanol and environmentally-friendly alternative energy sources. Last year, Ernst and Grassley joined a bipartisan group of 35 other senators urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase volume obligations for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuel and ensure any small refinery economic hardship exemptions are appropriately accounted for in its final rule for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Ernst and Grassley were also leaders in encouraging the Trump administration to approve year-round sale of E15 to help farmers and lower the cost of RFS compliance for oil refineries by producing more Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) which are used to ensure biofuels are being blended into our nation’s fuel supply.
Ernst says Iowa is proudly leading the way in corn and ethanol production. She says with strong support from the Iowa Corn Growers Association, she and Senator Grassley have continued to push the Trump Administration to fulfill President Trump’s promise of E15 year-round, which, she says, will boost the Iowa economy and provide Iowans choice at the pump. Ernst says she was humbled to receive the award.
Senator Grassley said Iowa is the number one corn-producing state in the nation, and is also the number one ethanol-producing state in the country with 43 refineries employing thousands of workers, boosting economic activity on Main Street and expanding the local tax base. Grassley went on to say that opening the door for year-round sales of higher blends of ethanol is a victory for Iowa farmers, rural America and the nation as a whole. He says he was honored to receive this recognition.
Iowa Corn Growers Association Chair Mark Recker thanked both Senators for their leadership and unwavering commitment that resulted in the proposed E15 rule.
