Whitaker wrong; we need fuel diversity

Senatorial candidate Matt Whitaker's May 7 guest column, 'Remove renewable fuels' safety net,” makes many faulty assumptions that should concern Iowa voters. His point of view that we should remove the federal Renewable Fuel Standard because 'our country has experienced a domestic oil and natural gas boom, lessening the need for renewable fuels” is a common mantra among critics. The problem is it that it's wrong.

Oil is a global commodity, which means the price is set globally. Just look at Canada, a net exporter of oil, yet taking taxes out of the equation, Canadians pay essentially the same price per gallon as we do. The only thing that will break the grip of foreign oil and Big Oil is diversifying our fuel supply. That's exactly what the RFS does, and as America's first Advanced Biofuel, biodiesel is a success story of both the RFS and American ingenuity.

In his quest for a 'free market,” Whitaker overlooks another important fact: When it comes to energy, there's no such thing as a free market. Oil has enjoyed decades of government subsidies, right up to the present day, giving it an enormous advantage over fledgling fuels that they couldn't overcome on their own. Now is not the time to reverse course on the promise of biofuels to help secure our nation's energy future. It's time to take control of our energy destiny by diversifying our portfolio, an important point for anyone who represents Iowa in Washington to understand.

Grant Kimberley

executive director

Iowa Biodiesel Board

Ankeny