WASHINGTON, DC – A bipartisan group in the Senate, has filed legislation to eliminate the corn ethanol mandate for renewable fuel under the Clean Air Act.
Led by Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and co-sponsored by Pat Toomey (R-PA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Susan Collins (R-MA), the bill known as the Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2021, would end all mandates and government support for ethanol but would not affect the volumes required for advanced biofuel, cellulosic biofuel, or biomass-based diesel.
Grain and ethanol groups have come out against the measure, and the bill will face tough opposition from Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst.
Grassley recently lamented his disgust with other corn-state senators for the lack of support for the farmers in their states. “When you have 14 corn-producing states, that’s 28 senators, I don’t even find the senators from those states backing up Ernst and I”, the senior Senator from Iowa says. “It seems to be an Ernst and Grassley problem and I would appreciate the other 26 senators getting involved and helping us, it would be a lot easier.”
(SOURCE: All Ag News)