Articles Tagged: ethanol

Recap of news from across the state

State lawmakers on Tuesday approved with strong, bipartisan support a proposal to require that most Iowa gas stations sell the E15 blend of ethanol in at least one pump.

The Iowa Senate’s tax policy committee Monday approved Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal after making some changes, including the addition of another way for small gas stations to receive an exemption from the proposed requirements and financial assistance for potential equipment upgrades.

In addition to vouchers, K-12 transparency, unemployment benefits, a proposed ethanol mandate, and the bottle bill remain on lawmakers’ to-do list.

The governors, including Iowa’s Kim Reynolds, are proposing the federal government regulate E10 — the most common blend of ethanol currently available year-round — the same as E15, which has a higher ethanol blend and typically is cheaper.

The Biden administration announced Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency will issue an emergency action that will make the E15 blend of ethanol available through this summer. The action will cite the strain on the nation’s fuel supply caused by the Russian military’s invasion of Ukraine.

The president will make the announcement at an event scheduled for this afternoon at a biofuels processing plant in Guthrie County.

An official said Biden will speak to Iowans about his administration’s plans to address rising costs on consumers, and highlight investments in infrastructure, particularly in rural communities.

Attorney General Tom Miller, a Democrat seeking re-election, joins many Republicans and ethanol industry leaders in calling for the Biden administration to utilize E15 to ease gas price pressures on consumers.

With just 23 calendar days — which means closer to 18 actual legislative work days, since lawmakers rarely work on Fridays — remaining until lawmakers’ expense reimbursements run out, the push to adjournment begins in earnest next week.

In Iowa, the average gas price Thursday was $3.924, but topped $4 in many rural areas according to AAA. However, Iowa lawmakers say they’ve heard little talk of suspending state motor fuel taxes -- 30 cents a gallon state tax on gas and ethanol, and 32.5 on diesel fuel.

U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley of Iowa are introducing legislation to replace banned Russian oil with American renewable fuels, saying biofuels are less expensive then straight-up petroleum products.

Proposed income tax cuts are on the move, and work on the next state budget has started earlier than normal.

The proposal passed through a streamlined legislative process Tuesday in the Iowa Senate, leaving it just a few legislative steps away from the governor’s pen.

Requiring fuel retailers to sell ethanol-blended products will not only spur demand for Iowa corn-based ethanol and produce savings for motorists, but promote its use beyond the state’s borders, backers said during debate in the Iowa House.